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LIBRARY 

UNIVfOil''    Of 
CAllfORNt» 

SAN  DIEGO 


130 

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Ifoo 


THE  UNIWRSITY  LIBRAKY 

«UKRSITY  Of  CAii.  :.KNI*   "AN  DIEGO 

U  JOIU.  CALIfORNJA 


SECRET   MEMOIRS 

OF     THE 

COURTS   OF   EUROPE 

FROM    THE 

16TH  TO  THE  19TH  CENTURY 

*    * 

VOLUME    IX 


THIS    EDITION,   PRINTED   ON   JAPANESE   VELLUM    PAPER 

IS    LIMITED    TO 

ONE   THOUSAND    NUMBERED    COPIES 

mill- 


^ccrrt  JHrmoirs 


THE    COURT    OF    LOUIS   XIV 


FRANCO ISE-ATHEN AIS   DE  ROCHECHOU- 
ART,   MARQUISE  DE  MONTESPAN 


After  the  painting  by  J.    Van  Loo,  in  a  private 
collection 


©ourtö  oi  dBxivopt 


SECRET  MEMOIRS 


OF    THE 


COURT  OF  LOUIS  XIV 

AND    OF    THE    REGENCY 


FROM    THE   CORRESPONDENCE    OF   THE 

DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS,  Ä^^       -' ^^ 

MOTHER  OF  THE    REGENT 


^tUustratctr 


PHILADELPHIA 
GEORGE    BARRIE    &    SON       PUBLISHERS 


ADVERTISEMENT 
BY   THE    EDITOR 


The  Duchess  of  Orleans,  commonly  though  incor- 
rectly styled  the  Princess  of  Bavaria,  was  known  to 
have  maintained  a  very  extensive  correspondence  with 
her  relations  and  friends  in  different  parts  of  Europe. 
Nearly  eight  hundred  of  her  letters,  written  to  the 
Princess  Wilhelmina  Charlotte  of  Wales  and  the  Duke 
Antoine-Ulric  of  Brunswick,  were  found  amongst  the 
papers  left  by  the  Duchess  Elisabeth  of  Brunswick  at 
her  death  in  1767.  These  appeared  to  be  so  curious 
that  the  Court  of  Brunswick  ordered  De  Praun,  a 
Privy  Councillor,  to  make  extracts  of  such  parts  as 
were  most  interesting.  A  copy  of  his  extracts  was 
sent  to  France,  where  it  remained  a  long  time  without 
being  published. 

In  1788,  however,  an  edition  appeared  ;  but  so 
mutilated  and  disfigured,  either  through  the  prudence 
of  the  editor  or  the  scissors  of  the  censor,  that  the 
more  piquant  traits  of  the  correspondence  had  entirely 
disappeared.  The  bold,  original  expressions  of  the 
German  were  modified  and  enfeebled  by  the  timid 
translator,  and  all  the  names  of  individuals  and  families 


VUl  ADVERTISEMENT    BY    THE    EDITOR 

were  suppressed,  except  when  they  carried  with  them 
no  sort  of  responsibility.  A  great  many  passages  of 
the  original  correspondence  were  omitted  ;  while,  to 
make  up  for  the  deficiencies,  the  editor  inserted  a 
quantity  of  pedantic  and  useless  notes.  In  spite  of 
all  these  faults  and  the  existence  of  more  faithful 
editions,  this  translation  was  reprinted  in  1807.  The 
existence  of  any  other  edition  being  unknown  to  its 
editor,  it  differed  in  nothing  from  the  preceding,  except 
that  the  dates  of  some  of  the  letters  were  suppressed, 
a  part  of  the  notes  cut  out,  and  some  passages  added 
from  the  Memoirs  of  Saint-Simon,  together  with  a  life, 
or  rather  panegyric,  of  the  Princess,  which  bore  no 
slight  resemblance  to  a  village  homily. 

A  copy  of  the  extracts  made  by  M.  de  Praun  fell 
by  some  chance  into  the  hands  of  Count  de  Veitheim, 
under  whose  direction  they  were  published  at  Strasburg 
in  1789  with  no  other  alterations  than  the  correction  of 
the  obsolete  and  vicious  orthography  of  the  Princess. 

In  1789  a  work  was  published  at  Dantzick,  in 
Germany,  entitled,  Confessions  of  the  Princess  Elizabeth 
Cltarlotte  of  Orleans,  extracted  from  her  letters,  addressed, 
between  the  years  1702  and  1722,  to  her  former 
governess,  Madame  de  Harling,  and  her  husband. 
The  editor  asserts  that  this  correspondence  amounted 
to  nearly  four  hundred  letters.  A  great  part  of  these 
are  only  repetitions  of  what  she  had  before  written  to 
the  Princess  of  Wales  and  the  Duke  of  Brunswick. 
Since  that  period  no  new  collections  have  appeared, 
although  it  is  sufficiently  well  known  that  other 
manuscripts   are   in   existence. 


ADVERTISEMENT   BY    THE    EDITOR  IX 

In  1820  M.  Schutz  published  at  Leipsig  the  Life 
and  Character  of  Elizabeth  Charlotte,  Duchess  of  Orleans, 
with  an  Extract  of  the  more  remarkable  parts  of  her  Corre- 
spondence. This  is  made  up  of  the  two  German  editions 
of  1789  and  1791  ;  but  the  editor  adopted  a  new 
arrangement,  and  suppressed  such  of  the  dates  and  facts 
as  he  considered  useless.  His  suppressions,  however, 
were  not  very  judicious  ;  without  dates  one  is  at  a  loss 
to  know  to  what  epoch  the  facts  related  by  the  Princess 
ought  to  be  referred,  and  the  French  proper  names  are 
as  incorrect  as  in  the  edition  of  Strasburg. 

Feeling  much  surprise  that  in  France  there  should 
have  been  no  more  authentic  edition  of  the  correspondence 
of  the  Regent-mother  than  the  miserable  translation  of 
1788  and  1807,  we  have  set  about  rendering  a  service 
to  the  history  of  French  manners  by  a  new  and  more 
faithful  edition.  The  present  is  a  translation  of  the  Stras- 
burg edition,  arranged  in  a  more  appropriate  order,  with 
the  addition  of  such  other  passages  as  were  contained  in 
the  German  collections.  The  dates  have  been  inserted 
wherever  they  appeared  necessary,  and  notes  have  been 
added  wherever  the  text  required  explanation,  or  where 
we  wished  to  compare  the  assertions  of  the  Princess  with 
other  testimonies.  In  some  few  places  it  was  found 
expedient  to  modify  the  free,  and  occasionally  gross, 
expressions  of  the  original.  The  Princess,  in  the  saloons 
of  the  Palais  Royal,  wrote  in  a  style  not  very  unlike  that 
which  might  be  expected  in  the  present  day  from  the 
tenants  of  its  garrets.  A  more  complete  biography  than 
any  which  has  hitherto  been  drawn  up  is  likewise  added 
to  the  present  edition.     In  other  respects  we  have  faith- 


X  ADVERTISEMENT    BY    THE    EDITOR 

fully  followed  the  original  Strasburg  edition.  The  style 
of  the  Duchess  will  be  sometimes  found  a  little  singular, 
and  her  chit-chat  indiscreet  and  often  audacious  ;  but  we 
cannot  refuse  our  respect  to  the  firmness  and  propriety 
with  which  she  conducted  herself  in  the  midst  of  a 
hypocritical  and  corrupt  Court.  The  reader,  however, 
must  form  his  own  judgment  on  the  correspondence  of 
this  extraordinary  woman  ;  our  business  is,  not  to  excite 
a  prejudice  in  favour  of  or  against  her,  but  merely  to 
present  him  with  a  faithful  copy  of  her  letters. 

Some  doubts  were  expressed  about  the  authenticity 
of  the  correspondence  when  the  mutilated  edition  of  1788 
appeared  ;  but  these  have  long  since  subsided,  and  its 
genuineness  is  no  longer  questioned. 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS 


Publishers'  Note v 

Editor's  Advertisement vii 

Biographical  Notice  of  the  Princess  Palatine,  Elisabeth  Charlotte, 

Duchess  of  Orleans x 

FRAGMENTS,  ANECDOTES,  and  PORTRAITS. 

EXTRACTED  FROM  HER  CORRESPONDENCE. 

Elisabeth  Charlotte,  Duchess  of  Orleans 28 

Ixjuis  XIV .        ,  51 

Mademoiselle  de  Fontange    ....                 ...  76 

Madame  de  la  Valliere 78 

Madame  de  Montespan 83 

Madame  de  Maintenon 87 

The  Queen-Consort  of  Louis  XIV.                 .....  106 

Philip  I.,  Duke  of  Orleans 109 

Philip  II.,  Duke  of  Orleans,  Regent  of  France     ....  117 

The  Affairs  of  the  Regency 131 

The  Duchess  of  Orleans,  Consort  of  the  Regent  ....  168 

The  Dauphine,  Princess  of  Bavaria 176 

Adelaide  of  Savoy,  the  second  Dauphine 184 

The  First  Dauphin 190 

The  Duke  of  Burgundy,  the  second  Dauphin        ....  19S 

Petite  Madame 200 

Henrietta  of  England,  Monsieur's  first  Consort    ....  201 

The  Duke  de  Berri                 208 

The  Duchess  de  Bern    ...                 ....  211 

Mademoiselle  d'Orleans,  Louise-Adelaide  de  Chartres.         .         .  218 

Mademoiselle  de  Valois,  Consort  of  the  Prince  of  Modena  .         .  222 

The  illegitimate  Children  of  the  Regent,  Duke  of  Orleans   .        .  229 

The  Chevalier  de  Lorraine    .                          .....  232 

Philip  V.  King  of  Spain        ....                 .        .  234 


XU  TABLE   OF   CONTENTS 

PACK 

The  Duchess,  Consort  of  the  Duke  de  Bourbon   ....  237 

The  younger  Duchess 239 

Duke  Lx)uis  de  Bourbon 242 

Fran9ois  Louis,  Prince  de  Conti 248 

La  Grande  Princesse  de  Conti 249 

The  Princess  Palatine,  Consort  of  Prince  Francois.   Louis  de 

Conti 250 

The  Princess  de    Conti,   Louise-Elisabeth,   Consort  of    Louis 

Armand 252 

Louis  Armand,  Prince  de  Conti 254 

The  Abbe  Dubois 259 

Mr.  Law 264 

Victor  Amadeus  II 274 

The  Grand  Duchess,  Consort  of  Cosmo  II.  of  Florence        .        .  276 

The  Duchess  de  Lorraine,  Elisabeth-Charlotte  d'Orlcans    .         .  277 

The  Duke  du  Maine 282 

The  Duchess  du  Maine 286 

Louvois 292 

Louis  XV 294 

Anecdotes  and  Historical  Particulars  of  Various  Persons    .        .  296 

Explanatory  Notes .        -        .  355 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE 


DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS, 


Although  the  Duchess  of  Orleans  has  drawn  her 
own  portrait  with  uncommon  frankness,  yet  there  are 
some  points  where,  wanting  either  the  opportunity  or 
the  will  to  speak  more  particularly  of  herself,  her  account 
is  rather  deficient.  Our  business  will  be  to  supply 
these  deficiencies,  and  to  collect  the  general  impression 
she  made  upon  her  contemporaries ;  especially  upon  the 
persons  of  her  own  Court,  where  she  was  brought  into 
contrast  with  that  brilliant  assembly  which  had  been 
gathered  together  by  the  supreme  will  of  the  despotic 
Louis  XIV. 

She  was  the  daughter  of  the  Elector-Palatine 
Charles-Louis,  and  of  the  Princess  Charlotte  of  Hesse 
Cassel ;  and  was  born  at  the  Castle  of  Heidelberg,  on 
the  7th  of  July,  1652.  In  her  youth  the  German 
Princes  had  not  yet  begun  to  copy  the  pomp  and 
courtesy  of  Louis  XIV.  Even  in  palaces  the  manners 
of  the  age  were  full  of  rudeness,  it  may  be  said 
grossness,  without  its  morals  being  in  any  respect 
the  purer.  The  Memoirs  of  the  Princess  of  Bareuth 
present    no   very   engaging    picture   of    the   interior    of 

I 


2  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE    OF 

the  Court  of  Berlin,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  A  brutal  and  avaricious  prince ; 
a  queen,  enslaved  in  her  own  palace,  with  no  other 
consolation  in  her  bondage  than  projects  of  family 
grandeur;  and  a  parcel  of  ill-treated  children,  made  up 
what  was  called  the  Court  of  Prussia. 

That  of  the  Elector-Palatine  in  the  seventeenth 
century  does  not  present  a  more  agreeable  appearance. 
His  Highness  had  a  great  number  of  illegitimate  children 
and  an  insolent  mistress  :  who,  according  to  a  custom  no 
less  absurd  than  immoral,  was  called  in  German  his 
wife  de  la  main  gauche.  The  poor  Electress,  unable  to 
endure  the  impertinence  of  this  concubine,  on  being 
questioned,  during  a  ceremonious  Court  entertainment, 
as  to  the  cause  of  her  unhappiness,  took  it  into  her  head 
to  say  that  she  was  hurt  to  see  the  servant  preferred 
to  the  mistress  of  the  house.  The  Elector,  transported 
with  passion,  punished  her  for  this  imprudent  remark 
with  a  rude  blow;  and  the  scandalous  scene  was  followed 
by  a  divorce  procured  at  his  instance,  to  whom  the 
whole  blame  attached.  The  unfortunate  Electress 
addressed  a  petition  to  the  Emperor,  supplicating 
justice  against  her  brutal  and  tyrannical  husband  :  but 
the  Emperor  was  too  cautious  to  interfere  in  this  private 
quarrel ;  and  the  poor  Electress  had  no  other  satisfaction 
than  that  of  engaging  the  sympathy  of  the  public,  to 
whom  the  petition  had  been  communicated  by  means 
of  the  press.  She  returned  to  Hesse,  and  there  termi- 
nated her  days. 

Such  a  Court  as  this  was  a  sad  school  for  a  young 
princess.  The  Elector  was  so  much  convinced  of  this, 
that    he    sent    his   daughter,  still  a  child,   io    his    sister 


THE    DUCHESS    OF   ORLEANS  3 

Sophia,  Electress  of  Hanover,  mother  of  George  I.  She 
appointed  an  excellent  governess,  Madame  d'HarUng, 
to  the  charge  of  her  niece :  and  the  pupil  remained 
tenderly  attached  to  her  all  her  life.  That  firmness  and 
frankness  of  character  which  distinguished  so  highly 
the  Princess  Palatine  were  probably  the  gift  of  nature : 
but  that  rectitude  of  judgment ;  that  indifference  for  the 
frivolous  pursuits  of  ordinary  females ;  that  disposition 
for  mental  occupation,  for  which  she  was  not  less 
distinguished,  must  be  attributed  in  a  great  measure  to 
her  education. 

Nature  had  not  graced  her  with  much  beauty ;  but 
the  young  Princess  was  wise  enough  to  supply  that 
defect  by  a  cultivated  mind,  and,  what  was  at  that  time 
infinitely  more  rare,  by  a  sound  understanding.  With 
these  two  advantages  a  woman  may  always  be  sure  of 
commanding  a  certain  importance. 

It  was  no  doubt  the  duty  of  the  governess  to  have 
corrected  the  aristocratical  pride  of  the  Princess ;  but  as 
this  feeling  is  so  general  and  so  deeply  rooted  amongst 
the  whole  German  nobility,  it  is  probable  that  Madame 
d'Harling  herself  did  not  observe  it.  Besides,  at  the  age 
of  eight  or  nine  years,  the  young  Princess  was  removed 
from  the  Court  of  Hanover,  and  put  under  the  care  of 
another  governess.  She  still  maintained  a  great  affection 
for  the  lady  she  quitted:  there  is  a  letter  extant,  written 
by  her  when  only  nine  years  of  age,  to  this  lady,  from 
Amsterdam ;  and  she  continued  to  correspond  with  her 
till  her  death. 

After  her  education  was  completed,  the  next  affair 
of  consequence  was  her  marriage.  A  Princess-Palatine 
can  never  be  at  a  loss  for  suitors,  and  numerous  offers 

1—2 


4  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE    OF 

were  made.  One  appeared  to  be  a  fool  ;  the  heart  of 
another  was  engaged  elsewhere ;  and  when  he  beheld 
the  Princess  he  withdrew  his  pretensions.  The  Princess 
herself  was  one  of  those  persons  who  always  keep 
their  sensibility  in  subjection  to  their  reason,  and  she 
encouraged  the  retirement  of  all  her  suitors.  An  offer 
was  at  last  made  which  neither  she  nor  her  father 
thought  it  prudent  to  refuse. 

The  Duke  of  Orleans,  brother  of  Louis  XIV.,  had 
just  lost  his  wife,  Henrietta  of  England,  who  had  been 
poisoned ;    and  the   persons   by  whom   the   murder  had 
been    committed,    though    well    known,   still    remained 
unpunished.     When    Louis  XIV.  had  ascertained   that 
his   brother   was   not   an    accomplice  in   the   crime,   he 
appeared    satisfied  ;     suspended    the    stroke    of   justice 
against  the  guilty  ;    and  thou<;ht  more  about  procuring 
for   his   brother   a    second   wife   than    of    avenging   the 
murder  of  his  first.     His  ambition  and  his  unmeasured 
prodigality  had  induced  him   to  make  several  attempts 
to  extend  his  domination  over  Germany,  and   even   to 
aim   at   the   possession   of  the   Imperial   Crown.      The 
base   flattery   of    his   courtiers   represented   that   every- 
thing  was    possible   and    even   easy    to   this    monarch. 
He   turned  his  views,  therefore,  to  the  Palatine  Court. 
The  Princess  had  but   one  brother,  whose  constitution 
was   extremely   feeble  ;     and   in    marrying    her   to   the 
Duke   of  Orleans   there   was  a  prospect    of   being   one 
day  able  to  get  possession  of  the  Palatinate,  to  gain  a 
footing  in  Germany,  and  thereby  to  smooth  the  passage 
to  the  Imperial  Crown  :  which,  notwithstanding  his  most 
anxious  wishes,  always  eluded  the  grasp  of  the  French 
King. 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  5 

The  marriage  was  speedily  arranged,  and  the  young 
Princess  at  the  age  of  nineteen  set  out  for  France  in 
the  year  1671.  One  very  important  formahty  remained 
to  be  performed  before  she  was  thought  worthy  of 
entering  into  the  family  of  Louis  XIV.,  which  admitted 
none  but  Catholic  Princes  and  Princesses.  The  Princess 
Charlotte  Elizabeth  was  a  Protestant,  and,  still  more, 
was  an  enlightened  woman,  and  the  declared  enemy  of 
bigotry  and  fanaticism.  Three  bishops  were  despatched 
to  meet  her  on  the  frontiers,  and  there  to  work  her  con- 
version. They  began  their  labours  at  Metz,  and  relieved 
each  other  by  relays  until  the  business  was  accomplished. 
The  superior  mind  of  the  young  lady  enabled  her  to 
remark  that  these  holy  men  did  not  agree  amongst 
themselves  on  the  real  grounds  of  their  belief,  and  she 
very  sarcastically  relates  that  she  took  a  little  from  each 
of  the  three,  and  formed  from  these  portions  of  their 
doctrine  a  creed  for  herself. 

At  a  later  period  that  spirit  of  flattery  which  loves 
to  dwell  in  the  precincts  of  a  Court,  was  loud  in  praise 
of  the  fervent  Catholicism  of  the  Princess.  IMassillon, 
in  his  funeral  oration  over  this  Princess,  says,  with 
much  assurance: — "She  never  relapsed  into  the  faith 
she  had  left,  because  she  quitted  it  with  her  own  free 
will ;  she  never  doubted  as  to  the  propriety  of  her 
choice,  for  she  had  made  it  through  conviction.  The 
prejudices  of  that  error  which  had  presided  over  her 
education  were  no  longer  to  be  traced,  except  in  her 
more  religious  docility  to  the  mysteries  of  the  faith.'  " 

I  "Jamais  de  retour  sur  la  foi  qu'elle  avait  quitt^e,  parce- 
qu'elle  I'avoit  quittee  volontairement ;  jamais  de  doute  sur  le 
parti    qu'elle   avoit   pris,   parcequ'elle  avait    pris    par    conviction. 


6  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE    OP 

Before  any  judgment  can  be  formed  as  to  the  truth 
of  these  assertions,  the  Princess  must  be  heard  in  her 
own  words.  She  expresses  herself  thus  in  one  of  her 
private  letters: — "I  perform  all  outward  ceremonies; 
I  go  to  Mass  with  the  King  every  week,  but  that  does 
not  deprive  me  of  the  edifying  consolation  of  the 
Lutheran  prayers."  It  must  be  allowed  that  the 
Catholicism  of  the  Court  of  Louis  XIV.  was  not  always 
very  instructive,  especially  to  a  person  of  her  pene- 
tration. 

If  further  proofs  be  required  as  to  what  her  real 
sentiments  were,  they  may  be  found  in  her  correspond- 
ence. She  censures  Maximilian,  the  Prince  of  Hanover, 
in  the  strongest  terms,  for  having  adjured  the  Protestant 
worship ;  and,  speaking  of  the  persecutions  that  were 
inflicted  on  the  celebrated  Leibnitz  by  the  clergy  of 
Hanover  because  he  refused  the  assistance  of  the 
ecclesiastics  on  his  death-bed,  she  makes  the  following 
reflections: — "After  such  a  life  as  Leibnitz's  nothing 
can  persuade  me  that  it  is  necessary  to  be  surrounded 
with  priests;  they  could  teach  him  nothing,  for  he  was 
more  learned  than  they.  Piety  is  not  the  fruit  of  forms  ; 
and  the  communion,  considered  as  a  matter  of  custom, 
has  no  moral  value  if  the  heart  be  void  of  generous 
sentiments  :  I  have  therefore  not  the  least  doubt  of 
the  eternal  happiness  of  Leibnitz."  The  sequel  of 
this  work  will  shew  her  contempt  for  the  hypocrisy 
and  superstition  which  the  superior  clergy  endeavoured 


Les  prejugds  de  rerrcur,  qui  avaicnt  prdsidd  ä  son  dducation, 
ne  paraisscnt  plus  en  eile,  que  par  unc  dociiitd  plus  rcligieuse 
aux  mystercs  dc  la  fui." 


THE    DUCHESS    OF   ORLEANS  7 

to  maintain  in  the  midst  of  the  licentiousness  of  the 
Courts  of  Louis  XIV.  and  the  Regency. 

After  her  conversion  nothing  was  wanting  in  the 
eyes  of  the  French  Government  to  render  her  worthy 
of  Monsieur's  hand,  who  married  her  fourteen  days 
afterwards  at  Chalons.  It  is  curious  to  remark  that 
each  party  thought  an  honour  was  conferred  on  the 
other  by  the  marriage.  Madame  de  Sevigne  pretends 
that  the  Princess  was  dazzled  at  the  high  rank  to 
which  she  was  elevated ;  the  Duke  Saint  Simon,  on  the 
contrary,  says  that  she  always  pretended  to  have  con- 
ferred an  obligation  on  her  husband.  It  is  clear  enough, 
from  her  correspondence,  that  she  was  not  led  astray 
by  the  dazzling  brilliancy  of  the  Court  of  Louis  XIV., 
and  that  she  knew  perfectly  well  that  her  greatest  charm 
in  the  eyes  of  her  husband  was  the  money  which  she 
brought  with  her  from  the  Palatinate. 

She  admits  that,  from  her  first  interview  with  her 
husband,  she  perceived  that  he  did  not  like  her.  Saint 
Simon  assures  us  that  she  received  his  advances  with 
an  air  of  superiority  and  grandeur  ;  whilst  he,  on  his 
part,  was  not  slow  in  convincing  her  of  the  effeminacy 
of  his  character  and  the  narrowness  of  his  understanding. 
Between  two  persons  thus  united  from  motives  of  policy 
or  mutual  convenience,  there  could  be  nothing  like 
sympathy.  At  the  early  age  of  nineteen  the  Princess 
found  herself  alone  in  the  midst  of  a  splendid  Court, 
where  one  beauty  eclipsed  another,  and  where  personal 
charms  were  in  a  constant  struggle  with  those  of  in- 
tellect, for  the  purpose  of  attracting  the  admiration  of 
the  monarch.  Miserable  indeed  must  have  been  the 
situation   of  a  young  German   Princess  without  beauty  ; 


ö  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE    OF 

speaking  with  extreme  difficulty  the  language  in  which 
the  whole  Court  expressed  itself  with  elegant  fluency ; 
left  without  any  support,  not  having  even  that  of  her 
husband ;  and  exposed  to  the  most  unhappy  of  all 
fortunes  in  a  Court — that  of  being  laughed  at  1  Add 
to  this,  that  she  was  obliged  to  reside  in  a  mansion 
where  the  murderers  of  her  predecessor  lived,  not  only 
without  punishment,  but  even  with  the  friendship  of 
her  husband,  and  some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the 
obstacles  she  had  to  overcome  before  she  could  maintain 
the  station  which  became  her  birth  and  marriage.  If 
in  spite  of  so  unfavourable  a  situation  she  succeeded 
in  acquiring  the  public  respect,  the  attachment  of 
Louis  XIV.,  and  the  confidence  of  her  husband,  it  is 
clear  that  she  must  have  had  some  great  and  many 
amiable  qualities.  This  triumph  on  her  part  is  so 
much  the  more  remarkable  as  it  was  purchased  by  no 
unbecoming  concession,  and  no  act  of  culpable  sub- 
servience. In  the  midst  of  a  Court  where  French 
manners  were  exclusively  cultivated,  she  maintained 
her  national  feelings  and  domestic  habits.  Her  dress, 
her  meals,  her  occupations  were  all  truly  German  ;  she 
received  her  countrymen  with  cordiality,  and  gave  them 
her  protection  ;  she  pursued  a  straightforward  course, 
spoke  undisguisedly  her  thoughts  ;  she  resisted  duplicity 
and  intrigue  with  courage  ;  and  whether  favourites, 
mistresses,  or  confessors  (for  such  were  the  persons  who 
had  most  influence  at  the  Court  of  Versailles),  all  were 
alike  indifferent  to  her.  It  is  usual  for  princesses  who 
are  introduced  by  marriage  to  foreign  Courts  to  lay 
aside  with  some  eagerness  their  national  affections, 
because  this  sacrifice  of  private  inclination  is  commonly 
regarded  as  a  merit. 


THE    DUCHESS    OF   ORLEANS  9 

Such,  however,  was  not  the  disposition  of  the 
Princess  Palatine.  In  her  letters  she  prides  herself 
upon  having  remained  still  a  German,  and  boasts 
pleasaitly  of  having  introduced  sour  crout  and  salade 
au  layd  into  France,  and  of  having  made  Louis  XIV. 
taste  omelettes  of  pickled  herrings.  When  she  was 
pressed  to  take  medicine,  she  always  said  she  had  no 
need  of  it ;  and  when  she  was  indisposed,  she  would 
take  a  walk  of  some  leagues  for  the  purpose  of  restoring 
herself  to  health.  Her  confessor  was  merely,  as  Duclos 
said,  an  additional  servant  in  her  establishment. 

She  neglected  the  business  of  the  toilette  because 
a  brilliant  style  of  dress  would  have  had  the  effect  of 
attracting  towards  her  attention  which  it  was  not  her 
interest  to  have  excited.  But  she  was  inexorable  in  all 
points  of  etiquette,  and  so  punctilious  with  respect  to 
the  privileges  of  nobility  that  she  treated  with  out- 
rageous rudeness  a  young  lady  who  was  represented  to 
be  a  Palatine  Princess.  This  lady  died  afterwards  of 
the  mortification  she  underwent,  and  the  Princess  relates 
the  event  in  her  correspondence  in  so  indifferent  a  tone, 
that,  far  from  feeling  any  remorse,  she  seems  to  have 
thought  she  had  done  a  praiseworthy  deed.  It  is  true 
that  the  pretensions  of  this  lady  were  supposed  to  be 
set  up  by  Madame  de  Maintenon  for  the  purpose  of 
debasing  the  Princess's  origin  :  but  even  if  it  was  an 
intrigue  it  was  not  one  which  required  the  death  of  the 
person  concerned  in  it.  Upon  this  topic,  however, 
Madame  carried  her  haughtiness  as  far  as  the  most 
infatuated  German  noble,  and  it  was  thus  that  she 
amply  paid  her  tribute  to  the  common  weakness  of 
humanity. 

She  was  highly  indignant  at  the  proposal  to  marry 


lO  BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICE    OF 

her  son,  afterwards  the  Regent,  to  one  of  the  illegitimate 
children  of  Louis  XIV.,  and  she  never  pardoned  Madame 
de  Maintenon  or  the  famous  Abbe  Dubois,  who  were  the 
authors  of  this  marriage. 

One  of  the  most  singular  habits  of  her  life  was  the 
indefatigable  zeal  which  she  displayed  in  her  correspond- 
ence.    Perhaps  no  person  ever  wrote  so  many  letters  as 
she  did  :  it  was  her  ordinary  and  constant   occupation, 
in  which  she  engaged  as  in  the  performance  of  a  task 
imposed  by  some  indispensable  duty  ;   and  she  did  not 
confine   herself  to   writing  mere  letters    or    notes,    but 
whole    volumes.      The   ordinary   course   of   her   corres- 
pondence she  describes  thus:  "  On  Sunday  I  write  to  my 
aunt,  the  dear  Electress  of  Hanover,  and  to  Lorraine ; 
on  Monday  to    Savoy  and   to  the  Queen  of  Spain ;  on 
Tuesday   to   Lorraine;    on   Wednesday   to  Modena;   on 
Thursday  to  Hanover  again;  on  Friday  to  Lorraine;  and 
on  Saturday  I  bring  up  the  arrears  of  the  week.     Some- 
times, after  having  written  in  the  course  of  a  day  twenty 
sheets  to  the  Princess  of  Wales,  ten  or  twelve  to  my 
daughter,  and  twenty  to  the  Queen  of  Sicily,  I    am  so 
tired  that  I  can  hardly  set  one  foot  before  the  other."     It 
is  not  difficult  to  believe  the  latter  fact.     She  does  not 
include  in  this  enumeration  her  regular  correspondence 
with  her  old  preceptress,  with  Prince  Ulric  of  Brunswick, 
the   Queen   of   Prussia,  and   many  other   persons,  from 
which  she  also  received  very  abundant  effusions.     This 
rage  for  writing  letters  often  took  her  from  the  society  of 
Monsieur  her  husband,  which  was  truly  not  of  the  most 
.  engaging  description.      Debauched  men    and  shameless 
women   composed   it   generally,    and   it    may   be    easily 
conceived  that  a   Princess,  who  was  neither  intriguing 


THE    DUCHESS    OF   ORLEANS  II 

nor  frivolous,  could  find  little  satisfaction  in  such  company. 
Saint  Simon  says,  somewhat  sarcastically,  that  "  she 
passed  her  days  in  her  cabinet,  contemplating  the  pictures 
of  German  Princes,  with  which  she  had  hung  it,  and  in 
writing  whole  volumes  to  them." 

This  malicious  description  of  the  manner  in  which 
she  passed  her  time  is  refuted  by  a  passage  in  one  of  the 
Princess's  letters :  "  Although  I  do  not  play  I  am  never 
dull,  because  I  can  always  find  something  to  employ  me 
in  my  cabinet.  I  possess  a  fine  series  of  medals  in  gold, 
my  aunt  has  given  me  an  equal  number  in  bronze  and  in 
silver,  I  have  from  two  to  three  hundred  carvings  in 
stone,  and  a  collection  of  engravings,  of  which  I  am 
very  fond,  besides  which,  as  I  love  reading,  the  time 
never  seems  long  to  me."  Occupations  so  wholesome 
might  appear  ridiculous  at  the  Court  of  the  brother  of 
Louis  XIV.,  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  Saint  Simon, 
although  he  did  not  entirely  partake  of  the  general 
frivolity,  should  join  in  the  sarcasms  of  the  courtiers. 

But  in  every  other  respect  Saint  Simon  appears  to 
have  very  correctly  understood  the  character  of  this 
Princess,  and  has  very  faithfully  drawn  her  portrait. 
"  Madame,  the  second  wife  of  Monsieur,  the  King's 
brother,  was  a  Princess  entirely  of  the  old  caste  ;  devoted 
to  honour,  virtue,  rank,  grandeur,  and  inexorable  in  regard 
to  etiquette.  She  was  not  deficient  in  wit,  and  what  she 
saw  she  saw  clearly  :  she  was  kind,  faithful ;  a  steady 
friend  ;  honest,  upright ;  easily  prejudiced,  and  quick  at 
taking  offence ;  difficult  to  be  appeased;  indelicate;  always 
committing  some  offence  against  the  little  decorums  of 
society ;  very  German  in  her  manners,  and  open  in  her 
disposition.     She  paid   little  respect   to   the  feelings  of 


12  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE    OF 

others  or  to  her  own ;  firm,  severe,  and  whimsical.  She 
had  as  much  talent  as  her  husband,  and  more  coherence 
and  application  in  its  employment;  and,  at  the  same  time, 
a  great  portion  of  natural  eloquence,  much  propriety  of 
expression,  a  singular  choice  and  uncommon  fluency  of 
w^ords,  which  always  produced  great  effect ;  together  with 
a  manner  peculiar  to  herself,  which  she  used  in  her  inter- 
course with  Madame  de  INIontespan  and  her  sisters,  and 
such  other  persons  as  were  very  intimate  with  her,  or  had 
been  brought  up  under  her  own  eyes.  She  said  every 
thing  she  thought,  and,  when  she  wished  it,  with  force, 
delicacy  and  pleasantness  ;  and  even  when  she  did  not 
speak  out,  she  made  herself  distinctly  and  pointedly 
understood.  Propriety  and  easiness  of  manners  were 
always  at  her  command,  though  she  did  not  always 
employ  them.  She  was  passionately  fond  of  horses 
and  dogs,  and  frequently  indulged  in  the  chase  and  in 
theatricals.  She  was  always  in  full  dress,  or  wore  a 
man's  wig  and  a  riding  habit ;  and  for  more  than  sixty 
years,  whether  well  or  ill  (and  she  rarely  was  the  last), 
she  had  never  worn  a  rohe  de  chambre.  She  loved  her  son 
Monsieur  extremely,  and  her  attachment  to  the  Duke  of 
Lorraine  and  his  children,  because  they  were  connected 
with  Germany,  almost  amounted  to  folly :  she  being 
singularly  devoted  to  her  native  country  and  to  her 
relations,  even  to  such  as  she  had  never  seen.  Her 
whole  life  was  occupied  in  writing  to  them,  and  she 
became  at  last  reconciled,  not  to  the  birth,  but  to  the 
person  of  her  daughter-in-law,  whom  she  treated  with 
great  attention  previous  to  the  dismissal  of  Madame 
d'Argenton.  She  pitied  and  almost  loved  Madame  the 
Duchess  of  Orleans,  and  severely  censured  the  prolligate 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  I3 

life  of  the  Duke,  her  son.  She  was  excessively  indignant 
at  the  conduct  of  the  Duchess  de  Berri,  and  spoke  of  it 
sometimes  with  the  greatest  bitterness,  though  in  con- 
fidence, to  Madame  Saint  Simon,  who  from  her  earliest 
appearance  at  Court  was  the  object  of  her  uninterrupted 
esteem  and  friendship.  The  only  point  of  sympathy 
between  herself  and  the  Duchess  of  Berri  was  their 
mutual  hatred  of  the  Duke  of  Maine,  the  bastards  and 
their  pretensions ;  and  she  took  great  offence  at  the 
indifference  of  her  son  on  the  same  subject.  With  all 
these  qualities  she  had  many  weaknesses  and  prejudices, 
and  was  always  jealous  that  others  did  not  shew  her 
sufficient  respect." 

With  respect  to  the  exterior  of  this  Princess,  the 
Duke  of  Saint  Simon  is  not  quite  so  severe  upon  her 
personal  appearance  as  she  was  herself.  He  says  that 
" her  complexion,  bosom,  arms  and  eyes,  were  fine;  her 
mouth  well  enough  ;  her  teeth  beautiful,  but  somewhat 
long;  her  cheeks  too  large  and  hanging,  which  injured 
without  destroying  her  good  looks.  The  greatest 
blemish  of  her  face  was  her  eyebrows,  which  were  small 
and  reddish.  Her  eyelids,  however,  were  fine,  and  her 
hair,  which  was  of  an  auburn  colour,  grew  very  becom- 
ingly. Without  being  precisely  crooked  or  hump-backed, 
one  side  was  larger  than  the  other,  and  her  walk  was 
always  on  one  side."  The  Duke  of  Saint  Simon  appears 
to  have  scrutinized  the  Duchess  very  minutely  from 
head  to  foot. 

We  must  now  turn  to  Madame  de  Sevigne,  who  is 
of  course  more  difficult  to  be  pleased  than  the  Duke. 
"The  Princess  did  not  make  any  impression  by  her 
charms,  and  afforded  a  striking  contrast  to  the  delicate 


14  BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICE    OF 

Henrietta.  Her  features  were  strongly  marked  ;  her  per- 
son fat,  and  her  constitution  robust :  she  had  an  indiffer- 
ence and  almost  an  aversion  for  dress,  elegance,  show,  and 
all  such  pleasures  as  required  the  slightest  restraint." 

The  Czar  of  Russia,  who  during  his  visit  to  Paris 
visited  the  Duchess,  and  conversed  with  her  for  more 
than  two  hours  in  German,  observed  after  he  had  left 
her  that  she  was  extremely  curious,  wishing  to  know 
everything,  and  that  she  had  overwhelmed  him  with  her 
questions,  but  that  after  all  he  had  told  her  nothing 
which  he  was  unwilling  she  should  know. 

The  Baron  de  Poellnitz  (that  adventurer  who  wan- 
dered about  the  different  Courts  of  Europe,  who  became 
a  Catholic  at  Paris  and  was  reconverted  to  Protestantism 
at  Berlin  for  the  sake  of  a  pension  and  a  place,  and  of 
whom  Frederick  of  Prussia  said  that  he  died  as  he  lived, 
playing  the  knave  on  the  very  eve  of  his  death),  has 
given  in  his  Memoirs  a  long  account  of  the  family  of 
the  Duchess,  whom  he  had  frequently  pestered  with  his 
solicitations.  This  account  is  too  diffuse  and  minute, 
but  still  it  is  curious. 

"The  Princess,"  says  the  Baron,  "  was  very  affable, 
though  it  was  not  easy  to  secure  her  patronage  :  she 
talked  a  great  deal  and  well,  and  loved  above  all  things 
to  converse  in  her  own  language,  which  more  than  fifty 
years'  residence  in  France  had  not  made  her  forget. 
For  this  reason  she  was  always  delighted  to  meet  with 
German  nobles,  and  to  maintain  with  them  an  epistolary 
correspondence.  She  was  extremely  punctual  in  writing 
to  the  Electress  of  Hanover  and  many  other  personages 
in  Germany.  Her  letters  were  not  such  as  are  commonly 
written,   but   sometimes  covered  from  twenty  to   thirty 


THE  DUCHESS  OF  ORLEANS  I5 

sheets  of  paper.  I  have  read  many  of  them  which  well 
deserved  to  be  made  public,  and  were  equal  to  any  I 
ever  read  in  German.  She  did  nothing  but  write  from 
morning  till  night.  Immediately  after  rising,  which  was 
always  about  ten,  she  sat  down  to  her  toilette  :  thence 
she  passed  to  her  cabinet,  when  after  having  spent  some 
time  in  prayer  she  continued  writing  until  the  hour  of 
Mass.  After  Mass,  she  wrote  until  dinner,  where  she 
did  not  spend  much  time  ;  she  returned  to  write, 
and  remained  thus  engaged  until  ten  in  the  evening. 
Towards  nine  o'clock,  she  would  be  seen  in  her  cabinet 
seated  at  a  large  table  surrounded  by  papers ;  near  her 
was  placed  an  ombre  table,  where  generally  Madame 
la  Marechale  de  Clerambault,  and  other  ladies  of 
the  Princess's  household  were  playing.  Occasionally 
Madame  would  look  on,  and  would  sometimes  advise  on 
the  game  as  she  continued  writing,  at  other  times  she 
would  converse  with  the  persons  who  formed  her  Court. 
I  have  seen  her  go  to  sleep,  and  a  minute  afterwards 
awake  suddenly  and  fall  to  writing  again." 

The  Baron  de  Poellnitz  heard  her  one  evening 
sharply  reprove  the  Duchess  de  Berri,  her  grand- 
daughter, who  was  about  to  present  herself  before  the 
King  in  an  undress ;  and  although  she  seemed  to  be 
transported  with  anger,  she  turned  round  to  write,  and 
continued  to  do  so,  still  speaking  on  the  same  subject, 
and  still  with  emotion.  Since  the  days  of  Caesar,  indeed, 
no  one  ever  corresponded  with  equal  facility  ;  the  letters 
of  Madame  often  give  proofs  of  these  interruptions,  and 
the  Baron  de  Poellnitz  perhaps  little  thought  that  he 
should  himself  figure  in  the  correspondence  which  he 
saw  growing  before  his  eyes.     Frederick  II.  of  Prussia, 


l6  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE    OF 

who  delighted  in  teasing  persons,  particularly  such  as 
were  of  but  slender  wit,  had  Madame's  correspondence, 
which  was  kept  at  Potsdam,  brought  to  him  one  day  at 
table  when  Poellnitz  was  present,  and  read  aloud  a  pas- 
sage in  which  she  spoke  of  a  certain  Sieur  de  Pcellnitz, 
who  passed  at  Paris  for  an  unprincipled  adventurer,  and 
who  was  always  committing  absurdities. 

She  had,  however,  been  the  benefactress  of  this 
adventurer,  who  thought  it  less  honourable  to  labour 
honestly  than  to  implore  the  charity  of  princes  and 
princesses. 

He  says  himself,  foolishly  enough,  that  Madame, 
hearing  he  had  no  more  money,  told  him  to  come  to  her 
cabinet.  "  I  found  her  alone  ;  when  she  saw  me  she 
said,  '  I  am  a  poor  widow  who  cannot  do  much,  but  I 
have  every  inclination  to  be  of  service  to  you.'  She  then 
ordered  me  to  open  a  bureau,  the  key  of  which  she  gave 
me,  and  to  take  a  bag  out  of  the  corner  of  it,  in  which  I 
found  three  thousand  livres  in  gold.  I  received  them 
with  all  possible  gratitude,  and  this  fresh  proof  of  her 
kindness  attached  me  more  than  ever  to  her  Royal 
Highness." 

This  instance  of  her  good  disposition  is  confirmed 
by  the  Abbe  de  Saint  Pierre,  who  on  the  occasion  of  her 
death  says  in  the  Annales  Politiques,  "  The  Princess  was 
entitled  to  great  respect  for  her  courage  and  firmness  in 
favour  of  justice,  while  her  gentle,  affable,  compassionate 
and  generous  temper  made  her  universally  beloved.  I 
had  the  honour  to  serve  her  for  more  than  twenty-five 
years  in  the  office  of  first  almoner,  and  I  always  had 
occasion  to  praise  the  goodness  which  she  displayed 
towards   myself  and  the  late  Jesuit   Saint   Pierre,  my 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  17 

brother  and  her  confessor."  She  was  the  constant  pro- 
tectress of  the  Germans  in  France,  and  it  was  through 
her  influence  that  Antoine  de  Neuhoff,  the  father  of 
Theodore,  King  of  Corsica,  was  provided  for.  She  pro- 
cured him  a  government  in  the  province  of  Metz,  got  his 
son  Theodore  appointed  page  to  the  Duke  Regent,  and 
his  sister  one  of  her  own  maids  of  honour. 

Madame  had  three  children  by  the  Duke  of  Orleans : 
the  first  lived  only  three  years,  her  second  son  was  the 
Regent,  and  her  daughter,  EHzabeth  Charlotte,  married 
the  Duke  of  Lorraine.  The  debauched  life  of  the  Regent 
would  not  prove  much  in  favour  of  the  education  he  had 
received,  but  that  must  not  be  imputed  to  his  mother  as 
her  fault.  The  education  of  princes  was  not  entrusted  to 
women  ;  and  it  is  known  besides  who  was  his  preceptor, 
that  Dubois,  who  corrupted  his  morals  and  encouraged 
his  profligate  excesses.  Madame  perceived  it  only  when 
it  was  too  late  to  be  remedied.  Perhaps  a  httle  more 
circumspection  on  her  part  might  have  prevented  the 
evil:  she  would  have  written  fewer  letters,  and  her  son 
might  not  have  been  so  vicious.  It  is  shocking  to 
perceive  from  her  letters  that  she  was  almost  the  con- 
fidante of  the  Regent's  debaucheries.  She  expresses, 
it  is  true,  horror,  and  even  contempt  for  her  son's 
profligacy ;  but  although  she  was  a  firm  and  irreproach- 
able woman  in  her  own  conduct,  she  was  a  weak  and 
indulgent  mother.  Perhaps  the  high  opinion  which  she 
entertained  of  the  prerogatives  of  royalty  induced  her  to 
believe  that  licentiousness  was  one  of  their  privileges. 

The  Regent  had,  besides,  a  very  strong  regard  for  his 
mother,  and  never  failed  in  external  respect  towards  her. 
If  he  imitated  her  in  anything,  it  was  in  her  aversion  to 

2 


l8  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE    OF 

superstition.  The  fanatical  party  had  no  influence 
during  his  government,  and  the  persecution  which  had 
been  so  cruelly  exercised  under  Louis  XIV.  received  no 
countenance  from  him.  He  might  have  gone  further, 
and  have  repaired  the  evils  which  had  been  caused  by  the 
advice  of  the  priests  in  the  preceding  reign;  but  to  do  this 
he  must  have  possessed  the  true  spirit  of  religion,  and  it 
is  well  known  that  he  had  no  religion  of  any  kind. 

The  example  of  such  a  father  must  needs  have 
influenced  the  conduct  of  his  children.  The  Duchess 
de  Berri  led  at  the  Luxembourg  as  scandalous  a  life  as 
the  Duke  of  Orleans  in  the  Palais  Royal.  Madame 
relates  some  particulars  attending  the  last  moments  of 
her  grand-daughter's  life,  which  were  never  before 
known ;  but  she  does  not  mention  all  the  irregularities  of 
this  young  Princess,  who  joined  to  her  profligacy  enough 
of  haughtiness  and  pride  of  birth  to  render  the  Palatine 
Princess  indulgent  towards  her. 

Madame  partially  educated  two  others  of  her  grand- 
children, Mademoiselle  de  Valois  and  Mademoiselle  de 
Chartres :  the  latter  insisted,  notwithstanding  her  grand- 
mother's opposition,  on  taking  the  veil  at  the  Abbey  of 
Chelles ;  the  former  commenced  by  an  intrigue  with  the 
Duke  de  Richelieu,  which  caused  the  Duke  of  Orleans  to 
hasten  her  marriage.  The  Prince  of  Piedmont  had  been 
proposed  to  the  Regent  as  his  son-in-law,  and  although 
the  Abbe  Dubois  had  other  views,  the  Regent  accepted 
the  proposal.    It  was,  however,  Madame  who  frustrated  it. 

"  In  the  anger  which  she  felt  against  her  grand- 
daughter," says  Duclos  in  his  Memoirs,  **  she  hastened 
to  write  to  the  Queen  of  Sicily  (with  whom  she  kept  up  a 
constant  correspondence),    that    she  was   too   much  her 


THE  DUCHESS  OF  ORLEANS  I9 

friend  to  offer  her  so  worthless  a  present  as  Mademoiselle 
de  Valois.  Some  days  afterwards,  when  the  letter  had 
reached  its  destination,  she  told  the  Duke  and  Duchess 
of  Orleans  what  she  had  done.  The  Duchess  was  in 
despair.  Mademoiselle  de  Valois  did  not  care  about  it,  the 
Abbe  Dubois  affected  great  sorrow,  while  the  Regent 
only  laughed  at  the  truly  German  affront  which  his 
mother  had  put  upon  them  all,  and  disturbed  himself 
but  little  about  his  wife's  vexation." 

Mademoiselle  de  Valois  was  soon  afterwards  married 
to  the  Duke  of  Modena.  Madame  does  not  speak  at  all 
in  her  correspondence  of  the  Duke  de  Chartres,  the  son  of 
the  Regent ;  by  the  excessive  devotion  of  this  Prince,  so 
complete  a  contrast  to  his  father,  it  is  obvious  that  the 
Princess  had  not  the  direction  of  his  education. 

The  only  event  which  connects  the  life  of  Madame 
with  the  history  of  the  time  is  that  war  against  the 
Palatinate,  of  which  her  marriage  was  the  cause  or  rather 
the  pretext.  Her  brother  Charles,  the  last  Palatine- 
Elector  of  the  branch  of  Simmeren,  died  in  1685,  after  a 
reign  of  five  years.  Madame  insinuates  in  her  correspond- 
ence, that  he  perished  by  violent  means.  No  evidence 
exists  on  this  point ;  but  such  political  crimes  must  have 
been  fearfully  common  at  this  period,  since  so  many 
princes  were  suspected  to  have  been  the  victims  of  them. 
The  direct  line  being  thus  extinct,  the  Duke  de  Nieu- 
bourg,  a  collateral  branch,  assumed  the  government  of  the 
Palatinate.  France  immediately  protested  against  this, 
and  in  the  name  of  the  Duchess  of  Orleans  demanded 
that  all  the  allodial  possessions  should  be  ceded  to  the 
only  descendant  of  the  family  of  Simmeren,  and  that 
with  the  exception  of  the  fiefs,   to  which   males   could 

2 — 2 


20  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE    OF 

alone  succeed,  the  other  parts  of  the  territory  should  be 
transferred  to  the  legitimate  heiress.  A  demand  was  at 
the  same  time  made  of  all  the  moveables  of  the  late 
Elector-Palatine;  and  all  that  could  be  transported  being 
meant  by  this  description,  it  even  included  the  cannon 
of  the  fortresses.  It  was  urged  in  support  of  this  claim 
that  the  Duchy  of  Simmeren  and  other  possessions  had 
come  to  the  Electoral  family  by  females,  and  that  conse- 
quently females  were  capable  of  inheriting  them  again, 
and  that  the  Duke  de  Nieubourg,  as  a  mere  collateral 
branch,  could  claim  nothing  but  the  Electorate. 

The  new  Palatine-Elector  did  not  delay  in  replying 
to  these  pretensions,  which  had  already  excited  great 
alarm  in  Germany.  He  contended  that  the  succession 
of  the  late  Elector  was  indivisible ;  he  set  up  the  renun- 
ciation made  by  the  Duchess  ot  Orleans  in  the  contract 
of  her  marriage  ;  he  opposed  the  rights  of  females  to 
allodial  property,  and  denied  that  such  property  had  come 
into  the  Electoral  family  by  means  of  females.  Long 
historical  and  genealogical  discussions  were  entered  into 
on  both  sides,  and  Memoirs  were  drawn  up,  which  are  to 
be  found  in  the  history  of  the  negotiations  for  the  peace 
of  Ryswick. 

Louis  XIV.  found  that  the  shortest  way  would  be  to 
send  an  army  into  the  Palatinate,  and  to  declare  war 
against  Germany,  which  was  not  without  powerful  assist- 
ance. No  war  could  have  been  less  advantageous  in  its 
results  for  France  ;  it  was,  on  the  contrary,  the  cause  of 
so  many  disasters  and  calamities  to  Germany,  and  con- 
duced so  little  to  the  glory  of  Louis  XIV.,  that  the  people 
might  have  cursed  the  alliance  which  had  furnished  the 
pretext  on  which  it  was  commenced  ;  and  all  the  posses- 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  21 

sions  which  were  claimed  on  behalf  of  the  House  of 
Orleans  could  not  have  repaired  a  fourth  part  of  the  evils 
of  which  it  was  the  occasion.  Louis  XIV.  was  not 
satisfied  with  having  exhausted  one  of  the  finest  parts 
of  Germany ;  the  barbarous  order,  which  though  it 
emanated  from  Louvois,  was  signed  by  the  King,  to 
reduce  the  Palatinate  to  a  desert,  completed  the  misery 
of  its  inhabitants.  Driven  from  their  homes,  plundered, 
stripped,  and  ill-treated  by  the  soldiers,  they  had  still  to 
endure  the  additional  grief  of  beholding  the  trees  cut 
down,  the  vines  rooted  up,  the  fruit  trees  destroyed, 
cities  and  hamlets,  castles  and  cottages,  reduced  to 
ashes.  Heidelberg,  Manheim,  Andernach,  Baden,  Ra- 
stadt,  Spire,  Worms,  Offenbach,  and  many  other  cities 
and  towns  were  ravaged  with  a  barbarity  which  assimi- 
lated the  officers  of  the  army  of  Louis  XIV.  to  the  leaders 
of  the  Huns  and  the  Vandals.  The  name  of  Melac, 
who  commanded  the  incendiaries,  still  exists  in  horrid 
memory  among  Germans,  and  the  ruins  of  the  castle  of 
Heidelberg  make  them  still  remember  to  curse  the 
memory  of  a  King  who  caused  a  Te  Deum  to  be  sung  for 
the  success  of  his  cruelties,  and  who  feasted  his  own 
vanity  by  a  medal  representing  the  devastation  and 
misery  of  an  extensive  country. 

After  having  thus  gratuitously  obtained  the  hatred  of 
the  people,  he  endured  the  humiliation  of  being  obliged, 
by  the  treaty  of  Ryswick,  to  renounce  the  Palatinate  in 
favour  of  the  Duke  de  Nieubourg.  The  treaty  of 
peace,  indeed,  stipulated  that  the  claims  of  the  Duchess 
of  Orleans  should  be  submitted  to  the  decision  of 
arbitrators,  but  the  manner  in  which  the  arbitration  was 
conducted    proved    that   it   was   no   more   than   a   vain 


22  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE    OF 

formality,  by  which  Louis  XIV.  wished  to  save  his  own 
honour.  The  two  arbitrators  between  the  Elector  and 
the  Princess  Palatine  were  the  Emperor  of  Germany  and 
the  King  of  France:  their  agents  met  in  1701,  at 
Frankfort  ;  they  swore,  in  the  first  place,  not  to 
pronounce  their  judgment  until  they  had  examined  all 
the  documents  and  heard  all  the  parties  ;  after  which 
the  French  Commissioner  declared  that  the  Duchess  of 
Orleans'  claim  was  established,  and  the  Imperial  Com- 
missioner pronounced  in  favour  of  the  opposite  party,  so 
that  (as  might  have  been  foreseen)  the  termination  of 
the  dispute  was  no  nearer  than  before.  The  treaty  of 
Ryswick  provided,  that  in  case  of  the  arbitrators  differing, 
the  Pope  should  decide  finally  ;  and  although  the  Pope 
could  know  nothing  of  the  course  of  German  descents, 
he  declared  that  the  right  was  with  the  Elector-Palatine. 
Twenty  years  later  he  would  probably  have  seen  the 
right  was  on  the  other  side ;  but  the  influence  of 
Louis  XIV.  was  now  on  the  decline,  and  the  Emperor 
was  becoming  more  powerful.  Thus  was  this  suit 
terminated,  which  could  not  have  been  the  cause  of  a 
war  if  the  power  of  public  opinion  had  been  then  what 
it  is  at  present. 

When  the  cause  was  decided  at  Rome,  in  1702, 
Madame  had  become  a  widow.  Her  marriage  had 
not  been  a  happy  one :  it  may  be  gathered  from  her 
letters  that  she  had  to  endure  a  husband  without  mind 
and  without  character,  protecting  openly,  and  in  his 
own  house,  the  favourites  by  whom  his  first  wife  had 
been  poisoned,  and  who,  despised  elsewhere  for  their 
immorality,  carried  their  devotion  to  the  grossest 
bigotry,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  anecdote  of  the  reliques 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  23 

which  Madame  relates ;  in  short,  possessing  as  Saint 
Simon  says,  all  the  vices  of  women  without  any  of  their 
virtues.  On  the  death  of  Monsieur,  Madame  de  Main- 
tenon  hoped  to  get  rid  of  his  widow,  who  unceasingly 
opposed  the  wishes  which  this  mistress  or  wife  of 
Louis  XIV.  cherished  in  favour  of  the  legitimated 
children,  to  the  exclusion  and  injury  of  the  Princes  of  the 
Blood.  The  hatred  which  was  openly  displayed  between 
Madame  de  Maintenon  and  the  family  of  Orleans,  but 
more  particularly  Madame,  caused  great  perplexity  to 
Louis  XIV. ;  the  former  reported  publicly  that  Madame 
had  poisoned  the  Princes  of  the  Royal  Family,  while  the 
latter  asserts  very  seriously  in  her  correspondence  that 
Madame  de  Maintenon  took  off  her  enemies  by  the  same 
means.  Neither  of  them  had  a  very  flattering  opinion 
of  the  other.  The  Princess  Palatine,  in  her  rage  against 
Madame  de  Maintenon,  expresses  herself  in  terms  so 
vulgar  that  we  should  almost  doubt  her  education ;  she 
never  calls  her  in  German  anything  but  die  alte  zotte,  an 
expression  so  gross  that  decency  forbids  its  translation. 
It  is  well  that  the  public  should  know  these  circum- 
stances, that  the  chimerical  notions  which  have  been 
entertained  of  the  amenity  of  Courts,  and  more  especially 
of  that  of  Louis  XIV.,  may  be  removed. 

The  death  of  Monsieur,  the  brother  of  Louis  XIV., 
seems  not  to  have  much  afflicted  the  Court.  As  none  of 
the  King's  subjects  had  been  more  devoted  to  his  will 
than  Monsieur,  all  the  courtiers  prepared  their  faces  into 
an  appearance  of  decent  grief,  and  expected  to  pass  some 
very  sorrowful  weeks.  They  were  much  surprised  to 
hear  the  King  on  the  following  day  singing  the  prologue 
of  an   opera,    and   see   him   amusing   himself   with   the 


24  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE    OF 

Duchess  of  Burgundy,  while  even  Madame  de  Maintenon 
did  not  take  the  trouble  to  affect  grief.  It  was  not  diffi- 
cult for  them  to  second  the  egotism  of  Louis  XIV.  and 
the  secret  joy  of  his  wife,  so  that  Monsieur  was  forgotten 
even  before  he  was  buried.  The  King  lost  no  time  in 
asking  Madame  where  she  would  choose  to  retire  ;  but 
she  knowing  the  intentions  of  Madame  de  Maintenon, 
and  believing  that  they  would  willingly  let  her  die  of 
hunger  in  whatever  retreat  she  might  select,  replied  that 
she  did  not  intend  to  retire  at  all,  but  that  she  should 
remain  at  the  Court.  It  seems  that  the  King  then  gave 
her  to  understand  that,  in  order  to  stay  at  Court,  she 
must  live  upon  a  better  understanding  with  Madame 
de  Maintenon,  and  he  brought  about  a  reconciliation 
between  the  ladies,  who  mutually  embraced  in  his 
presence.  God  only  knows  whether  their  hearts  were 
reconciled. 

The  Marquess  de  Dangeau,  in  his  Court  Journal, 
mentions  this  reconciliation. 

"  The  King,"  he  says,  "  had  some  slight  differences 
with  Madame;  yesterday  (nth  June,  1701)  she  had  a 
conversation  with  the  King,  in  which  they  spoke  to  each 
other  without  disguise.  The  King  quitted  her  perfectly 
contented,  and  more  attached  than  ever;  she  had  had 
a  long  conference  with  Madame  de  Maintenon  previous 
to  her  interview  with  the  King." 

Madame  de  Maintenon  did  not  relax  in  her  exertions 
for  the  exaltation  of  the  illegitimate  children  without 
troubling  herself  about  the  effect  which  her  intrigues 
were  likely  to  produce  upon  the  Princes  of  the  blood  and 
the  nation.     On  the  death  of  Louis  XIV.,  however,  the 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  25 

Duke  of  Orleans  reasserted  the  rights  of  his  birth  ;  the 
bastards  were  despoiled  of  the  privileges  which  had  been 
bestowed  upon  them,  and  Madame  had  the  satisfaction  of 
seeing  her  son  at  the  head  of  affairs :  a  satisfaction  which 
had  been  more  complete  but  for  that  son's  marriage  with 
the  King's  illegitimate  daughter. 

She  lived  a  widow  twenty  years,  solely  occupied  in 
receiving  the  respects  of  the  Regent  and  in  educating  her 
grandchildren  and  a  boy  of  the  family  of  her  preceptress, 
whom  she  first  made  her  page,  and  who  afterwards 
attained  the  rank  of  Field  Marshal.  Maintaining  always 
a  respectable  rank  among  the  Princes  and  Princesses  of 
the  blood,  she  lived  long  enough  to  witness  the  com- 
mencement of  the  reign  of  Louis  XV.  She  wished  to  be 
present  at  the  ceremony  of  the  young  King's  consecra- 
tion at  Rheims  ;  but  immediately  after  her  return  to 
Saint  Cloud  symptoms  of  a  dropsy  appeared.  She  was 
blooded  against  her  will,  and  probably  unwisely.  Shortly 
previous  to  this  event  she  had  written  to  the  husband  of 
her  instructress  :  "  I  know  that  my  hour  is  fixed  and  that 
I  shall  not  live  a  minute  beyond  it.  I  commend  every- 
thing to  the  Eternal,  and  beyond  this  I  give  myself  no 
concern.  It  would  be  foolish  to  believe  that  God  cares 
more  for  people  of  rank  than  for  others :  thank  Heaven  I 
have  no  such  vanity  ;  I  know  what  I  am,  and  I  never 
deceived  myself  in  this  respect."  In  another  letter  she 
says, — "  I  feel  my  seventieth  year  approach  ;  another 
such  attack  as  that  which  was  so  uncivil  as  to  seize  me 
this  year,  and  I  shall  soon  know  what  is  going  on  in  the 
other  world.  My  constitution  has  been  very  good,  as 
may  be  seen  by  what  I  have  endured  ;  but  the  pitcher 


26  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICE    OF 

goes  SO  often  to  the  well  that  it  is  broken  at  last.  These 
thoughts,  however,  do  not  afflict  me ;  we  know  that  we 
come  into  the  world  but  to  die.  Besides  an  extreme  old 
age  does  not  appear  to  me  very  desirable,  it  is  so  full  of 
suffering  ;  and,  to  say  the  truth,  in  bearing  pain  I  am 
little  better  than  a  coward."  She  says,  too, — "  I  pity 
the  folks  who  fear  death,  for  notwithstanding  their 
apprehensions,  it  will  come  nevertheless."  Seeing  her- 
self near  her  end,  she  had  an  interview  with  her  son ; 
and  died  on  the  8th  of  December,  1722.  Masillon  pro- 
nounced her  funeral  oration  at  St.  Denis.  Some  persons, 
who  did  not  love  her,  made  an  epitaph  insulting  to  her 
son,  but  which  was  not  to  be  contradicted :  "  Here  lies 
Idleness."     It  is  known  what  Idleness  is  the  mother  of. 

Her  extensive  correspondence  is  probably  still  pre- 
served in  the  several  Courts  of  Spain,  Naples,  Berlin, 
and  other  great  cities.  Two  or  three  collections  only, 
or  rather  extracts  from  them,  have  yet  been  published. 
She  wrote  a  barbarous  sort  of  German  mixed  with  the 
provinciaHsm  of  the  Palatinate  and  French  phrases ; 
there  is  a  crudity  in  her  expressions  which  owns  no 
restraint,  and  which  presents  a  singular  contrast  to  the 
delicate  and  graceful  style  of  Sevigne,  Caylus,  Maintenon, 
and  other  ladies  of  the  Court  of  Louis  XIV.  Her  letters, 
moreover,  contain  a  perfect  scandalous  chronicle  ;  all  the 
anecdotes  which  were  afloat  there  found  a  place.  A  light 
would  perhaps  be  thrown  upon  affairs  now  altogether 
mysterious  if  the  whole  of  them  should  one  day  come 
before  the  public.  The  feelings  of  some  families  might, 
it  is  very  likely,  be  wounded,  but  the  history  of  the 
manners  of  the  times  would  gain  much  by  their  publi- 
cation.    A  false  glitter  has  too  long  dazzled  the  eyes  of 


THE    DUCHESS   OF   ORLEANS  27 

subsequent  generations,  with  respect  to  the  Court  of 
Louis  XIV.  ;  and  it  would  be  beneficial  that  the  illusion 
should  be  destroyed  by  persons  who  viewed  this  pretended 
grandeur  closely,  and  who  had  the  good  sense  to  appreciate 
its  value  justly. 


HISTORICAL  FRAGMENTS. 


SECT.    I. 

MADAME      ELISABETH-CHARLOTTE      OF      BAVARIA,      DUCHESS 
OF     ORLEANS. 

If  my  father  had  loved  me  as  well  as  I  loved  him  he 
would  never  have  sent  me  into  a  country  so  dangerous 
as  this ;  to  which  I  came  through  pure  obedience  and 
against  my  own  inclination.  Here  duplicity  passes  for 
wit,  and  frankness  is  looked  upon  as  folly.  I  am  neither 
cunning  nor  mysterious ;  I  am  often  told  I  lead  too 
monotonous  a  life,  and  am  asked  why  I  do  not  take  a 
part  in  certain  affairs :  this  is  frankly  the  reason ;  I  am 
old,  I  stand  more  in  need  of  repose  than  of  agitation  ; 
and  I  will  begin  nothing  that  I  cannot  easily  finish.  I 
have  never  learnt  to  govern  ;  I  am  not  conversant  with 
politics,  nor  with  state  affairs,  and  I  am  now  too  far 
advanced  in  years  to  learn  things  so  difficult.  My  son, 
I  thank  God,  has  sense  enough,  and  can  direct  these 
things  without  me ;  besides,  I  should  excite  too  much 
the  jealousy  of  his  wife^  and  his  eldest  daughter,^  whom 

1  Marie  Fran9oise  de  Bourbon,  the  legitimate  daughter  of 
Louis  XIV.  and  of  Madame  de   Montespan,   Duchess  of  Orleans. 

2  Marie-Louise-EUsabeth  d'Orleans,  married  on  the  17th  of 
July,   1710,  to  Charles  de  France,  Due  de  Berri. 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  2g 

he  loves  better  than  me  ;  eternal  quarrels  would  ensue, 
which  would  not  at  all  suit  my  views.  I  have  been 
tormented  enough,  but  I  have  always  forborne,  and  have 
endeavoured  to  set  a  proper  example  to  my  son's  wife 
and  his  daughter  ;  for  this  kingdom  has  long  had  the 
misfortune  to  be  too  much  governed  by  women,  young 
and  old.  It  is  high  time  that  men  should  now  assume 
the  sway,  and  this  is  the  reason  which  has  determined 
me  not  to  intermeddle.  In  England,  perhaps,  women 
may  reign  without  inconvenience ;  in  France  men  alone 
should  do  so,  in  order  that  things  may  go  on  well.  Why 
should  I  torment  myself  by  day  and  by  night  ?  I  seek 
only  peace  and  repose ;  all  that  were  mine  are  dead ; 
for  whom  should  I  care  ?  My  time  is  past ;  I  must 
try  to  live  smoothly  that  I  may  die  tranquilly;  and  in 
great  public  affairs  it  is  difficult  indeed  to  preserve  one's 
conscience  spotless. 

I  was  born  at  Heidelberg  (1652),  in  the  seventh 
month.  I  am  unquestionably  very  ugly :  I  have  no 
features ;  my  eyes  are  small,  my  nose  is  short  and  thick, 
my  lips  long  and  flat ;  these  do  not  constitute  much  of  a 
physiognomy  :  I  have  great  hanging  cheeks  and  a  large 
face ;  my  stature  is  short  and  stout ;  my  body  and  my 
thighs  too  are  short,  and  upon  the  whole  I  am  truly  a 
very  ugly  little  object.  If  I  had  not  a  good  heart,  no  one 
could  endure  me.  To  know  whether  my  eyes  give  tokens 
of  my  possessing  wit,  they  must  be  examined  with  a 
microscope,  or  it  will  be  difficult  to  judge.  Hands  more 
ugly  than  mine  are  not  perhaps  to  be  found  on  the  whole 
globe.  The  King  has  often  told  me  so,  and  has  made  me 
laugh  at  it  heartily;  for  not  being  able  to  flatter  even 
myself  that  I  possessed  any  one  thing  which   could  be 


30  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

called  pretty,  I  resolved  to  be  the  first  to  laugh  at  my 
own  ugliness :  this  has  succeeded  as  well  as  I  could  have 
wished,  and  I  must  confess  that  I  have  seldom  been  at  a 
loss  for  something  to  laugh  at.  I  am  naturally  somewhat 
melancholy ;  when  anything  happens  to  afflict  me,  my 
left  side  swells  up  as  if  it  were  filled  with  water.  I  am 
not  good  at  lying  in  bed  ;  as  soon  as  I  awake  I  must  get 
up.  I  seldom  breakfast,  and  then  only  on  bread  and 
butter.  I  take  neither  chocolate,  nor  coffee,  nor  tea,  not 
being  able  to  endure  those  foreign  drugs.  I  am  German 
in  all  my  habits,  and  like  nothing  in  eating  or  drinking 
which  is  not  conformable  to  our  old  customs.  I  eat  no 
soup  but  such  as  I  can  take  with  milk,  wine,  or  beer  ; 
I  cannot  bear  broth ;  whenever  I  eat  anything  of  which 
it  forms  a  part  I  fall  sick  instantly,  my  body  swells,  and 
I  am  tormented  with  colics.  When  I  take  broth  alone 
I  am  compelled  to  vomit,  even  to  blood,  and  nothing  can 
restore  the  tone  of  my  stomach  but  ham  and  sausages, 

I  never  had  anything  like  French  manners,  and  I 
never  could  assume  them,  because  I  always  considered  it 
an  honour  to  be  born  a  German,  and  always  cherished  the 
maxims  of  my  own  country,  which  are  seldom  in  favour 
here.  In  my  youth  I  loved  swords  and  guns  much  better 
than  toys  ;  I  wished  to  be  a  boy,  and  this  desire  nearly 
cost  me  my  life  :  for  having  heard  that  Marie  Germain 
had  become  a  boy  by  dint  of  jumping,  I  took  such  terrible 
jumps  that  it  is  a  miracle  I  did  not  on  a  hundred  occasions 
break  my  neck.  I  was  very  gay  in  my  youth,  for  which 
reason  I  was  called  in  German  Rauschenplatten-Knect. 
The  Dauphine  of  Bavaria  used  to  say,  "  My  poor  dear 
mamma  "  (so  she  used  always  to  address  me),  "  where 
did  you  pick  up  all  the  funny  things  you  know  ?  " 


THE    DUCHESS    OF   ORLEANS  3I 

I  remember  the  birth  of  the  King  of  England^  as 
well  as  if  it  was  only  yesterday  (1720).  I  was  curious 
and  mischievous.  They  had  put  a  doll  in  a  rosemary 
bush,  for  the  purpose  of  making  me  believe  it  was  the 
child  of  which  my  aunt^  had  just  lain  in  ;  at  the  same 
moment  I  heard  the  cries  of  the  Electress,  who  was  then 
in  the  pains  of  childbirth.  This  did  not  agree  with  the 
story  which  I  had  been  told  of  the  baby  in  the  rosemary 
bush  :  I  pretended,  however,  to  believe  it,  but  crept  to 
my  aunt's  chamber  as  if  I  was  playing  at  hide-and-seek 
with  little  Bulau  and  Haxthausen,  and  concealed  myself 
behind  a  screen  which  was  placed  before  the  door  and 
near  the  chimney.  When  the  newly-born  infant  was 
brought  to  the  fire  I  issued  from  my  hiding-place.  I 
deserved  to  be  flogged,  but  in  honour  of  the  happy 
event  I  got  quit  for  a  scolding. 

The  monks  of  the  Convent  of  Ibourg,  to  revenge 
themselves  for  my  having  unintentionally  betrayed  them, 
by  telling  their  Abbot  that  they  had  been  fishing  in  a 
pond  under  my  window,  a  thing  expressly  forbidden  by 
the  Abbot,  once  poured  out  white  wine  for  me  instead  of 
water.  I  said,  "  I  do  not  know  what  is  the  matter  with 
this  water :  the  more  of  it  I  put  into  my  wine  the  stronger 
it  becomes."  The  monks  replied  that  it  was  very  good 
wine.  When  I  got  up  from  the  table  to  go  into  the 
garden,  I  should  have  fallen  into  the  pond  if  I  had  not 

1  George  Louis,  Duke  of  Brunswick  Hanover,  born  the  28th  of 
May,  1660  ;  proclaimed  King  of  England  the  12th  of  August,  1714, 
by  the  title  of  George  I. 

2  Sophia  of  Bavaria,  married  in  1658  to  the  Elector  of  Hanover, 
was  the  paternal  aunt  of  Madame.  She  was  the  grand-daughter  of 
James  I.,  and  was  thus  declared  the  first  in  succession  to  the  crown 
of  England,  by  Act  of  Parliament,  23rd  March,  1S07. 


32  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

been  held  up ;  I  threw  myself  upon  the  ground  and  fell 
fast  asleep  immediately.  I  v/as  then  carried  into  my 
chamber  and  put  to  bed.  I  did  not  awake  until  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  when  I  remembered  all  that  had 
passed.  It  was  on  a  Holy  Thursday:  I  complained  to 
the  Abbot  of  the  trick  which  had  been  played  me  by 
the  monks,  and  they  were  put  into  prison.  I  have  often 
been  laughed  at  about  this  Holy  Thursday. 

My  aunt,  our  dear  Electress  (of  Hanover),  being  at 
the  Hague,  did  not  visit  the  Princess  Royal  ^;  but  the 
Queen  of  Bohemia^  did,  and  took  me  with  her.  Before 
I  set  out,  my  aunt  said  to  me,  "  Lisette,  now  take  care 
not  to  behave  as  you  do  in  general,  and  do  not  wander 
away  so  that  you  cannot  be  found ;  follow  the  Queen 
step  by  step,  so  that  she  may  not  have  to  wait  for  you." 

I  replied,  "  Oh  aunt,  you  shall  hear  how  well  I  will 
behave  myself." 

When  we  arrived  at  the  Princess  Royal's,  whom  I 
did  not  know,  I  saw  her  son  whom  I  had  often  played 
with  ;  after  having  gazed  for  a  long  time  at  his  mother 
without  knowing  who  she  was,  I  went  back  to  see  if  I 
could  find  any  one  to  tell  me  what  was  this  lady's  name. 
Seeing  only  the  Prince  of  Orange,  I  accosted  him  thus  : 

1  Maria-Henrietta  Stuart,  daughter  of  Charles  I.  of  England, 
and  of  Henriette-Marie  of  France,  married  in  1650,  to  William  of 
Nassau,  Prince  of  Orange  ;  she  lost  her  husband  in  1650,  and  was 
left  pregnant  with  William-Henry  of  Nassau,  Prince  of  Orange,  and 
afterwards,  by  the  Revolution  of  1688,  King  of  England.  This 
Princess  was  then  preceptress  of  her  son,  the  Stadtholder  of 
Holland. 

2  Elisabeth  Stuart,  daughter  of  James  I.  of  England,  widow  of 
Frederick  v.,  Duke  of  Bavaria,  Count  Palatine  of  the  Rhine,  King  of 
Bohemia  until  the  year  1621,  mother  of  the  Duchess  of  Hanover. 


THE    DUCHESS   OF   ORLEANS  33 

"  Pray  tell  me  who  is  that  woman  with  so  tre- 
mendous a  nose  ?  " 

He  laughed  and  answered,  "  That  is  the  Princess 
Royal,  my  mother." 

I  was  quite  stupefied.  That  I  might  compose  my- 
self. Mademoiselle  Heyde  took  me  with  the  Prince  into 
the  Princess's  bed-chamber,  where  we  played  at  all  sorts 
of  games.  I  had  told  them  to  call  me  when  the  Queen 
should  be  ready  to  go,  and  we  were  rolling  upon  a 
Turkey  carpet  when  I  was  summoned  ;  I  arose  in  great 
haste  and  ran  into  the  hall ;  the  Queen  was  already  in 
the  ante-chamber.  Without  losing  a  moment,  I  seized 
the  robe  of  the  Princess  Royal,  and  making  her  a  low 
curtsey  at  the  same  moment  I  placed  myself  directly 
before  her,  and  followed  the  Queen  step  by  step  to  her 
carriage ;  everybody  was  laughing,  but  I  had  no  notion 
of  what  it  was  at.  When  we  returned  home,  the  Queen 
went  to  find  my  aunt,  and  seating  herself  upon  the  bed, 
burst  into  a  loud  laugh. 

"  Lisette,"  said  she,  "  has  made  a  delightful  visit  "  ; 
and  then  she  told  all  that  I  had  done,  which  made  the 
Electress  laugh  even  more  than  the  Queen.  She  called 
me  to  her  and  said : 

*•  Lisette,  you  have  done  right ;  you  have  revenged 
us  well  for  the  haughtiness  of  the   Princess." 

My  brother  would  have  had  me  marry  the  Margrave 
of  Dourlach,!  but  I  had  no  inclination  towards  him 
because  he  was  affected,  which  I  never  could  bear.  He 
knew  very  well  that  I  was  not  compelled  to  refuse  him. 


I  Frederic,  Margrave  of  Baden  Dourlach,  born  in  1648  ;  he 
married  in  1670  Augusta-Maria,  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  Hclstein- 
Gottorp. 

.3 


34  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

for  he  was  married  long  before  they  thought  of  marrying 
me  to  Monsieur.  Still  he  thought  fit  to  send  to  me  a 
Doctor  of  Dourlach,  for  the  purpose  of  asking  me  whether 
he  ought  to  obey  his  father  and  marry  the  Princess  of 
Holstein.  I  replied  that  he  could  not  do  better  than  to 
obey  his  father  ;  that  he  had  promised  me  nothing,  nor 
had  I  pledged  myself  to  him  ;  but  that,  nevertheless,  I 
was  obliged  to  him  for  the  conduct  he  had  thought  fit  to 
adopt.     This  is  all  that  passed  between  us. 

Once  they  wanted  to  give  me  to  the  Duke  of 
Courlande^;  it  was  my  aunt  d'Hervod  who  wished  to 
make  that  match.  He  was  in  love  with  Marianne,^  the 
daughter  of  Duke  Ulric  of  Wurtemberg ;  but  his  father 
and  mother  would  not  allow  him  to  marry  her  because 
they  had  fixed  their  eyes  on  me.  When,  however,  he 
came  back  from  France  on  his  way  home,  I  made  such 
an  impression  on  him  that  he  would  not  hear  of  marriage, 
and  requested  permission  to  join  the  army. 

I  once  received  a  very  sharp  scolding  in  a  short 
journey  from  Manheim  to  Heidelberg.  I  was  in  the 
carriage  with  my  late  father,  who  had  with  him  an  envoy 
from  the  Emperor,  the  Count  de  Köenigseck.  At  this 
time  I  was  as  thin  and  light  as  I  am  now  fat  and  heavy. 
The  jolting  of  the  carriage  threw  me  from  my  seat  and  I 
fell  upon  the  Count ;  it  was  not  my  fault,  but  I  was 
nevertheless  severely  rebuked  for  it,  for  my  father  was 

1  Frederic  Casimir,  Duke  of  Courlande,  born  in  1650;  he 
married  Sophia-Amelia  de  Nassau-Legen  in  1645,  whom  he  lost  in 
16S8;  he  contracted  a  second  marriage  with  Elisabeth-Sophia, 
daughter  of  Frederic-William,  Elector  of  Brandenbourg. 

2  Mary-Anne-Ignatia,  Princess  of  Wurtemberg,  born  in  1653, 
died  unmarried  in  1698,  at  the  Ursuline  Convent  of  Lyons. 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  35 

not  a  man  to  be  trifled  with,  and  it  was  always  necessary 
to  be  very  circumspect  in  his  presence. 

When  I  think  of  conflagrations  I  am  seized  with  a 
shivering  fit,  for  I  remember  how  the  Palatinate  was 
ravaged  for  more  than  three  months.  Whenever  I  went 
to  sleep,  I  used  to  think  I  saw  Heidelberg  all  in  flames ; 
then  I  used  to  wake  with  a  start,  and  I  very  narrowly 
escaped  an  illness  in  consequence  of  those  outrages.^ 

Upon  my  arrival  in  France  I  was  made  to  hold  a 
conference  with  three  bishops.  They  all  differed  in  their 
creeds,  and  so  taking  the  quintessence  of  their  opinions 
I  formed  a  religion  of  my  own. 

It  was  purely  from  the  affection  I  bore  to  her  that  I 
refused  to  take  place  of  our  late  Electress  ;  but  making 
always  a  wide  distinction  between  her  aid  and  the 
Duchess  of  Mecklenbourg,^  as  well  as  our  Electress  of 
Hanover.'  I  did  not  hesitate  to  do  so  with  respect  to 
both  the  latter.  I  also  would  not  take  precedence  of  my 
mother.  In  my  childhood  I  wished  to  bear  her  train, 
but  she  would  never  permit  me. 

I  have  been  treated  ill  ever  since  my  marriage :  this 
is  in  some  degree  the  fault  of  the  Princess  Palatine,^  who 
prepared  my  marriage  contract;  and  it  is  by  the  contract 
that  the   inheritance  is  governed.     All  persons  bearing 

1  The  burning  of  the  Palatinate  in  1674 — a  horrible  devastation 
commanded  by  Louis,  and  executed  by  Turenne. 

2  Elisabeth-Angelica  de  Montmorency,  widow  of  Gaspard  de 
Coligny,  Duke  de  Chatillon,  re-married  in  1664  to  Christian-Louis, 
Duke  of  Mecklenbourg. 

3  Benedicta  -  Henrietta  -  Philippa,  Princess  Palatine  of  the 
Rhine,  Duchess  of  Hanover,  returned  to  France  after  her  husband's 
death;  she  died  at  Asnieres,  near  Paris,  in  1730. 

4  Anne  de  Gonzague,  Princess  Palatine,  who  took  so  active  a 
part  in  the  troubles  of  the  Fronde. 

3—2 


36  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

the  title  of  Madame  have  pensions  from  the  King ;  but 
as  they  have  been  of  the  same  amount  for  a  great  many 
years  past  they  are  no  longer  sufficient. 

I  would  willingly  have  married  the  Prince  of 
Orange,  for  by  that  union  I  might  have  hoped  to  remain 
near  my  dear  Electress  (of  Hanover). 

Upon  my  arrival  at  Saint-Germain  I  felt  as  if  I  had 
fallen  from  the  clouds.  The  Princess  Palatine  went  to 
Paris  and  there  fixed  me.  I  put  as  good  a  face  upon 
the  affair  as  was  possible ;  I  saw  very  well  that  I  did  not 
please  my  husband  much,  and  indeed  that  could  not 
be  wondered  at,  considering  my  ugliness  ;  however,  I 
resolved  to  conduct  myself  in  such  a  manner  towards 
Monsieur  that  he  should  become  accustomed  to  me  by 
my  attentions,  and  eventually  should  be  enabled  to 
endure  me.  Immediately  upon  my  arrival  the  King 
came  to  see  me  at  the  Chateau  Neuf,'  where  Monsieur 
and  I  lived  ;  he  brought  with  him  the  Dauphin,  who  was 
then  a  child  of  about  ten  years  old.  As  soon  as  I  had 
finished  my  toilette  the  King  returned  to  the  old 
Chateau,  where  he  received  me  in  the  Guards'  hall,  and 
led  me  to  the  Queen,  whispering  at  the  same  time, — 
"  Do  not  be  frightened,  Madame,  she  will  be  more  afraid 
of  you  than  you  of  her."  The  King  felt  so  much  the 
embarrassment  of  my  situation  that  he  would  not  quit 
me ;  he  sat  by  my  side,  and  whenever  it  was  necessary 
for  me  to  rise,  that  is  to  say,  whenever  a  Duke  or  a 
Prince  entered  the  apartment,  he  gave  me  a  gentle  push 
in  the  side  without  being  perceived. 

According  to  the  custom  of  Paris,  when  a  marriage 

I  Destroyed  in  the  reign  of  Louis  XV. 


THE   DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  37 

is  made,  all  property  is  in  common  ;  but  the  husband  has 
the  entire  control  over  it.  That  only  which  has  been 
brought  by  way  of  dowry  is  taken  into  the  account ;  for 
this  reason  I  never  knew  how  much  my  husband  received 
with  me.  After  his  death,  when  I  expected  to  gain  my 
cause  at  Rome  and  to  receive  some  money,  the  disagree- 
able old  Maintenon  asked  me  in  the  King's  name  to 
promise  that  if  I  gained  the  cause  I  would  immediately 
cede  the  half  of  the  property  to  my  son ;  and  in  case 
of  refusal  I  was  menaced  with  the  King's  displeasure. 
I  laughed  at  this,  and  replied  that  I  did  not  know  why 
they  threatened  me,  for  that  my  son  was  in  the  course 
of  nature  my  heir,  but  that  it  was  at  least  just  that  he 
should  stay  until  my  death  before  he  took  possession  of 
my  property,  and  that  I  knew  the  King  was  too  equitable 
to  require  of  me  anything  but  what  was  consistent  with 
justice.  I  soon  afterwards  received  the  news  of  the  loss 
of  my  cause,  and  I  was  not  sorry  for  it  on  account  of  the 
circumstance  I  have  just  related. 

When  the  Abbe  de  Tesse  had  convinced  the  Pope 
that  his  people  had  decided  without  having  read  our 
papers,  and  that  they  had  accepted  50,000  crowns  from 
the  Grand  Duke  to  pronounce  against  me,  he  began 
weeping,  and  said,  "  Am  I  not  an  unhappy  man  to  be 
obliged  to  trust  such  persons  ? "  This  will  shew  what 
sort  of  a  character  the  Pope  was. 

When  I  arrived  in  France  I  had  only  an  allowance 
of  a  hundred  louis-d'or  for  my  pocket-money;  and  this 
money  was  always  consumed  in  advance.  After  my 
mother's  death,  when  my  husband  received  money  from 
the  Palatinate,  he  increased  this  allowance  to  two 
hundred  louis ;  and  once,  when  I  was  in  his  good  graces. 


38  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

he  gave  me  a  thousand  louis.  Besides  this,  the  King 
had  given  me  annually  one  thousand  louis  up  to  the  year 
before  the  marriage  of  my  son.  That  supported  me,  but 
as  I  would  not  consent  to  the  marriage  I  was  deprived 
of  this  sum,  and  it  has  never  been  restored  to  me.  On 
my  first  journey  to  Fontainebleau,  the  King  would  have 
given  me  2,000  pistoles,  but  that  Monsieur  begged  him 
to  keep  half  of  them  for  Madame,  afterwards  the  Queen  of 
Spain.^  I  cared  very  little  about  it,  and  nevertheless 
went  to  P'ontainebleau,  where  I  lost  all  my  money  at 
Hoca.  Monsieur  told  me,  for  the  purpose  of  vexing 
me,  of  the  good  office  he  had  done  me  with  the  King ; 
I  only  laughed  at  it,  and  told  him  that  if  Madame  had 
chosen  to  accept  the  thousand  pistoles  from  my  hands, 
I  would  very  freely  have  given  them  to  her.  Monsieur 
was  quite  confused  at  this,  and,  by  way  of  repairing  the 
offence  he  had  committed,  he  took  upon  himself  the 
payment  of  600  louis-d'or,  which  I  had  lost  over  and 
above  the  thousand  pistoles. 

I  receive  now  only  456,000  francs,  which  is  exactly 
consumed  within  the  year ;  if  they  could  have  given  me 
any  less  they  would.  I  would  not  be  thought  to  make 
claims  to  which  I  am  not  entitled,  but  it  should  be 
remembered  that  Monsieur  has  had  the  money  of  my 
family. 

I  was  very  glad  when,  after  the  birth  of  my 
daughter,^   my   husband   proposed    separate   beds  ;    for, 

1  Marie-Louise  d'Orleans,  born  in  1662  ;  married,  in  1679,  to 
Charles  II.  King  of  Spain. 

2  Elizabeth-Charlotte  d'Orleans,  born  in  1676,  married  in  1697 
to  the  Duke  of  Lorraine.  Philippe  d'Orleans,  afterwards  Regent  of 
France,  was  born  in  1G74 :  there  were  no  other  children  by  this 
marriage. 


THE  DUCHESS  OF  ORLEANS  39 

to  tell  the  truth,  I  was  never  very  fond  of  having 
children.  When  he  proposed  it  to  me,  I  answered, 
•'  Yes,  Monsieur,  I  shall  be  very  well  contented  with  the 
arrangement  provided  you  do  not  hate  me,  and  that  you 
will  continue  to  behave  with  some  kindness  to  me."  He 
promised,  and  we  were  very  well  satisfied  with  each 
other.  It  was  besides  very  disagreeable  to  sleep  with 
Monsieur ;  he  could  not  bear  anyone  to  touch  him  when 
he  was  asleep,  so  that  1  was  obliged  to  lie  on  the  very 
edge  of  the  bed  :  whence  it  sometimes  happened  that 
I  fell  out  like  a  sack.  I  was  therefore  enchanted  when 
Monsieur  proposed  to  me  in  friendly  terms,  and  without 
any  anger,  to  lie  in  separate  rooms. 

I  obeyed  the  late  Monsieur  by  not  troubling  him 
with  my  embraces,  and  always  conducted  myself  towards 
him  with  respect  and  submission. 

He  was  a  good  sort  of  man,  nothwithstanding  his 
weaknesses,  which  indeed  oftener  excited  my  pity  than 
my  anger.  I  must  confess  that  I  did  occasionally  express 
some  impatience,  but  when  he  begged  pardon  it  was  all 
forgotten. 

Madame  de  Fiennes  had  a  considerable  stock  of  wit, 
and  was  a  great  joker ;  her  tongue  spared  no  one  but 
me.  Perceiving  that  she  treated  the  King  and  Monsieur 
with  as  little  ceremony  as  any  other  persons,  I  took  her 
by  the  hand  one  day,  and  leading  her  apart,  I  said  to 
her, — 

"  Madame,  you  are  very  agreeable ;  you  have  a 
great  deal  of  wit,  and  the  manner  in  which  you  display 
it  is  pleasant  to  the  King  and  Monsieur,  because  they 
are  accustomed  to  you  ;  but  for  me,  who  am  but  just 
arrived,  I  cannot  say  that   I  like  it :  when  any  persons 


40  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

entertain  themselves  at  my  expense  I  cannot  help  being 
very  angry,  and  it  is  for  this  reason  that  I  am  going 
to  give  you  a  little  advice.  If  you  spare  me  vfe  shall 
be  mighty  good  friends;  but  if  you  treat  me  as  I  see 
you  treat  others  I  shall  say  nothing  to  you;  I  shall 
nevertheless  complain  of  you  to  your  husband,  and  if  he 
does  not  restrain  you  I  shall  dismiss  him." 

He  was  my  Equerry-in-Ordinary. 

She  promised  never  to  speak  of  me,  and  she  kept 
her  word. 

Monsieur  often  said  to  me  :— "  How  does  it  happen 
that  Madame  de  Fiennes  never  says  anything  severe 
of  you  ?  " 

I  answered,—"  Because  she  loves  me." 

I  would  not  tell  him  what  I  had  done,  for  he  would 
immediately  have  excited  her  to  attack  me. 

I  was  called  sometimes  Smir  Pacifiqm^  because  I 
did  all  in  my  power  to  maintain  harmony  between 
Monsieur  and  his  cousins,  La  Grande  Mademoiselle  * 
and  La  Grande  Duchesse  ^  :  they  quarrelled  very 
frequently,  and  always,  Hke  children,  for  the  slightest 
trifles. 

Madame  de  Ventadour  was  my  Maid  of  Honour  for 
at  least  sixteen  years.  She  did  not  quit  me  until  two 
years  after  the  death  of  my  husband,  and  then  it  was  by 
a  contrivance  of  old  Maintenon  ;  she  wished  to  annoy 
me  because  she  knew  I  was  attached  to  this  lady,  who 

1  Anne-Marie-Louise  d'Orleans,  Duchess  of  Montpensler.  and 
Marguerite-Louise  d'Orleans,  Ducliess  of  Tuscany,  daughters  of 
Gaston,  Duke  of  Orleans,  but  by  different  wives. 

2  Charlotte-Eleonore-Madeleine  de  la  Motte  Houdancourt, 
Duchess  of  Ventadour  ;  she  was  gonvcrnanh'  to  Louis  XV. 


THE    DUCHESS    OF   ORLEANS  4I 

was  good  and  amiable,  but  not  very  cunning.  Old 
Maintenon  succeeded  in  depriving  me  of  her  by  means 
of  promises  and  threats,  which  were  conveyed  by 
Soubise,^  whose  son^  had  married  Madame  de  Ven* 
tadour's  daughter,  and  who  was  an  artful  woman.  By 
way  of  recompense  she  was  made  gouvernante.  They 
tried  also  to  deprive  me  of  Madame  de  Chateau  Thiers  ; 
the  old  woman  employed  all  her  power  there  too,  but 
Madame  de  Chateau  Thiers  ^  remained  faithful  to  me, 
without  telling  of  these  attempts,  which  I  learnt  from 
another  source. 

Madame  de  Monaco*  might,  perhaps,  be  fond  of 
forming  very  close  attachments  to  her  own  sex,  and 
Madame  de  Maintenon  would  have  put  me  on  the  same 
footing ;  but  she  did  not  succeed,  and  was  so  much 
vexed  at  her  disappointment  that  she  wept.  Afterwards 
she  wanted  to  make  me  in  love  with  the  ChevaHer 
de  Vendome,^  and  this  project  succeeded  no  better 
than  the  other.  She  often  said  she  could  not  think  of 
what  disposition  I  must  be,  since  I  cared  neither  for  men 
nor  women,  and  that  the  German  nation  must  be  colder 
than  any  other. 

I  like  persons  of  that  cool  temperament.  The  poor 
Dauphine  of  Bavaria  used  to  send  all  the  young  cox- 

1  Anne  de  Rohan  Chabot,  Princess  of  Soubise,  died  in  1709. 

2  Hercule  Meriadec  de  Rohan,  Prince  of  Soubise,  mafried  in 
1694  to  Anne  Genevieve  de  Levis  Ventadour. 

3  Mademoiselle  Anne  -  Madeleine  de  Foudras  de  Chateau 
Thiers. — See  L'Etat  de  la.  France  de  1689. 

4  Catherine-Charlotte  de  Grammont,  wife  of  Louis  de  Grimaldi, 
Prince  of  Monaco,  died  in  1678;  she  had  been  Madame's  lady  of 
honour  before  Madame  de  Ventadour. 

■5  Philippe  de  Vendome,  afterwards  Grand  Prior  of  the  Order 
of  Malta. 


42  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

combs  of  the  Court  to  me,  knowing  that  I  detested  such 
persons,  and  would  be  nearly  choked  with  laughter  at 
seeing  the  discontented  air  with  which  I  talked  to  them. 

Falsehood  and  superstition  were  never  to  my  taste. 

The  King  was  in  the  habit  of  saying,  "  Madame 
cannot  endure  unequal  marriages  ;  she  always  ridicules 
them." 

Although  there  are  some  most  delightful  walks  at 
Versailles,  no  one  went  out  either  on  foot  or  in  carriages 
but  myself;  the  King  observed  this,  and  said,  "  You  are 
the  only  one  who  enjoys  the  beauties  of  Versailles." 

All  my  life,  even  from  my  earliest  years,  I  thought 
myself  so  ugly  that  I  did  not  like  to  be  looked  at.  I 
therefore  cared  little  for  dress,  because  jewels  and  decora- 
tion attract  attention.  As  Monsieur  loved  to  be  covered 
with  diamonds  it  was  fortunate  that  I  did  not  regard 
them,  for  otherwise  we  should  have  quarrelled  about  who 
was  to  wear  them.  On  grand  occasions  Monsieur  used 
formerly  to  make  me  dress  in  red ;  I  did  so,  but  much 
against  my  inclination,  for  I  always  hated  whatever  was 
inconvenient  to  me.  He  always  ordered  my  dresses,  and 
even  used  to  paint  my  cheeks  himself. 

I  made  the  Countess  of  Soissons^  laugh  very  heartily 
once.  She  said  to  me,  "  How  is  it,  Madame,  that  you 
never  look  in  a  mirror  when  you  pass  it,  as  everybody 
else  does  ?  " 

I  answered,  "  Because  I  have  too  great  a  regard  for 
myself  to  be  fond  of  seeing  myself  look  as  ugly  as  I 
really  am." 

I  was  always  attached  to  the  King  ;   and  when  he 

I  Olympe  Rlancini,  Countess  of  Soissons,  superintendant  of  the 
Oueen's  household. 


THE   DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  43 

did  anything  disagreeable  to  me  it  was  generally  to 
please  Monsieur,  whose  favourites  and  my  enemies  did 
all  they  could  to  embroil  me  with  him,  and  through  his 
means  with  the  King  that  I  might  not  be  able  to 
denounce  them.  It  was  natural  enough  that  the  King 
should  be  more  inclined  to  please  his  brother  than  me ; 
but  when  Monsieur's  conscience  reproached  him  he 
repented  of  having  done  me  ill  offices  with  the  King, 
and  he  confessed  this  to  the  King ;  his  Majesty  would 
then  come  to  us  again  immediately,  notwithstanding  the 
malicious  contrivances  of  old  Maintenon. 

I  have  always  had  my  own  household,  although 
during  Monsieur's  life  I  was  not  the  mistress  of  it, 
because  all  his  favourites  derived  a  share  of  profit  from 
it.  Thus  no  one  could  buy  any  employment  in  my 
establishment  without  a  bribe  to  Grancey,^  to  the 
Chevalier  de  Lorraine,  to  Cocard,  or  to  M.  Spied.  I 
troubled  myself  little  about  these  persons  :  so  long  as 
they  continued  to  behave  with  proper  respect  towards 
me,  I  let  them  alone ;  but  when  they  presumed  to 
ridicule  me,  or  to  give  me  any  trouble,  I  set  them  to 
rights  without  hesitation  and  as  they  deserved. 

Finding  that  Madame  La  Marechale  de  Clerambault 
was  attached  to  me,  they  removed  her,  and  they  placed 
my  daughter  under  the  care  of  Madame  La  Marechale 
de  Grancey,^  the  creature  of  my  bitterest  enemy,  the 
Chevalier   de   Lorraine,  whose   mistress    was   the   elder 

1  Elisabeth  Rouxel  de  Grancey,  called  Madame  de  Grancey, 
was  dame  d'atour  to  Marie-Louise  d' Orleans,  Queen  of  Spain ;  she  was 
the  mistress  of  the  Chevalier  de  Lorraine. 

2  Charlotte  de  Mouray  Villarceaux,  second  wife  of  Marshal 
de  Grancey. 


44  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

sister  of  this  very  Grancey.  It  may  be  imagined  how 
fit  an  example  such  a  woman  was  for  my  daughter  :  but 
all  my  prayers,  all  my  remonstrances,  were  in  vain. 

Madame  de  Montespan  said  to  me  one  day  that  it 
was  a  shame  I  had  no  ambition,  and  would  not  take  part 
in  anything. 

I  replied,  "  If  a  person  should  have  intrigued 
assiduously  to  become  Madame,  could  not  her  son  permit 
her  to  enjoy  that  rank  peaceably  ?  Well,  then,  fancy 
that  I  have  become  so  by  such  means,  and  leave  me  to 
repose." 

*«  You  are  obstinate,"  said  she. 

<*  No,  Madam,"  I  answered,  *'  but  I  love  quiet,  and 
I  look  upon  all  your  ambition  to  be  pure  vanity." 

I  thought  she  would  have  burst  with  spite,  so  angry 
was  she.     She,  however,  continued  : — 

**  But  make  the  attempt  and  we  will  assist  you." 

"  No,"  I  replied,  "  Madam,  when  I  think  that  you, 
who  have  a  hundred  times  more  wit  than  I,  have  not 
been  able  to  maintain  your  consequence  in  that  Court 
which  you  love  so  much,  what  hope  can  I,  a  poor 
foreigner,  have  of  succeeding,  who  know  nothing  of 
intrigue,  and  like  it  as  little  ?  " 

She  was  quite  mortified.  "  Go  along,"  said  she, 
"you  are  good  for  nothing." 

Old  Maintenon  and  her  party  had  instilled  into  the 
Dauphine  a  deep  hatred  against  me ;  by  their  direction 
she  often  said  very  impertinent  things  to  me.  They 
hoped  that  I  should  resent  them  to  the  Dauphine  in 
such  manner  as  to  afford  her  reason  to  complain  to  the 
King  of  me,  and  thus  draw  his  displeasure  upon  me. 
But  as  1  knew  the  tricks  of  the  old  woman  and  her 


THE    DUCHESS    OF   ORLEANS  45 

coterie,  I  resolved  not  to  give  them  that  satisfaction  ; 
I  only  laughed  at  the  disobliging  manner  in  which  they 
treated  me,  and  I  gave  them  to  understand  that  I  thought 
the  ill  behaviour  of  the  Dauphine  was  but  a  trick  of  her 
childhood,  which  she  would  correct  as  she  grew  older. 
When  I  spoke  to  her  she  made  me  no  reply,  and  laughed 
at  me  with  the  ladies  attendant  upon  her. 

"  Ladies,"  she  once  said  to  them,  "  amuse  me,  I  am 
tired  "  ;  and  at  the  same  time  looked  at  me  disdainfully. 
I  only  smiled  at  her,  as  if  her  behaviour  had  no  effect 
upon  me. 

I  said,  however,  to  old  Maintenon,  in  a  careless 
tone : — "  Madame  La  Dauphine  receives  me  ungraciously  ; 
I  do  not  intend  to  quarrel  with  her,  but  if  she  should 
become  too  rude  I  shall  ask  the  King  if  he  approves  of 
her  behaviour." 

The  old  woman  was  alarmed,  because  she  knew 
very  well  that  the  King  had  enjoined  the  Dauphine 
always  to  behave  politely  to  me  ;  she  begged  me  imme- 
diately not  to  say  a  word  to  the  King,  assuring  me  that 
I  should  soon  see  the  Dauphine's  behaviour  changed ; 
and  indeed,  from  that  time,  the  Dauphine  altered  her 
conduct,  and  lived  upon  much  better  terms  with  me. 
If  I  had  complained  to  the  King  of  the  ill-treatment  I 
received  from  the  Dauphine  he  would  have  been  very 
angry  ;  but  she  would  not  have  hated  me  the  less,  and 
she  and  her  old  aunt  would  have  formed  means  to  repay 
me  double. 

Ratzenhausen  ^  has  the  good  fortune  to  be  sprung 
from  a  very  good  family :    the   King  was   always   glad 

1  A  lady  who  had  accompanied  Madame  to  France,  and  who, 
it  seems,  was  called  Leonora  or  Linor. 


46  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

to  see  her,  because  she  made  him  laugh ;  she  also 
diverted  the  Dauphine,  and  Madame  de  Berri  liked 
her  much,  and  made  her  visit  her  frequently.  It  is  not 
surprising  that  we  should  be  good  friends ;  we  have  been 
so  since  our  infancy,  for  I  was  not  nine  years  old  when 
I  first  became  acquainted  with  her.  Of  all  the  old  women 
I  know  there  is  not  one  who  keeps  up  her  gaiety  like 
Linor. 

I  often  visited  Madame  de  Maintenon,  and  did  all 
in  my  power  to  gain  her  affections,  but  could  never 
succeed.  The  Queen  of  Sicily^  asked  me  one  day  if 
I  did  not  go  out  with  the  King  in  his  carriage,  as  when 
she  was  with  us.     I  replied  to  her  by  these  verses  : — 

Cast  heureux  temps  n'est  plus :  tout  a  change  de  face 
Depuis  que  dans  ces  lieux  les  dieux  ont  amen6 
La  fiUe  de  Minos  et  de  Pasipha^.^ 

Madame  de  Torci^  told  this  again  to  old  Maintenon, 
as  if  it  applied  to  her ;  which  indeed  it  did,  and  the  King 
was  obliged  to  look  coolly  on  me  for  some  time. 

During  the  last  three  years  of  his  life  I  had  entirely 
gained  my  husband  to  myself,  so  that  he  laughed  at  his 
own  weaknesses,  and  was  no  longer  displeased  at  being 

1  Anne  Marie  d'Orleans,  daughter  of  Monsieur  by  his  first  wife, 
married  in  1684  to  Victor- Amedee-Fran9ois,  Duke  of  Savoy.  The 
kingdom  of  Sicily  having  been  ceded  to  this  Prince  in  1713,  by  the 
Treaty  of  Utrecht,  he  took  the  title  of  King  of  Sicily ;  which,  how- 
ever, he  kept  but  a  short  time,  having  soon  been  obliged  to  change 
that  kingdom  for  Sardinia. 

2  A  quotation  from  memory  of  three  lines  of  Racine's  Phedre ; 
the  second  line  should  stand  thus  : — 

"  Depuis  que  sur  ces  bords  les  dieux  ont  envoys,"  &c. 

3  Catherine-Felicite-Arnaud  de  Pomponne,  grand-daughter  of 
Arnaud  de  Port  Royal ;  she  was  married,  in  1696,  to  Jean  Baptiste 
Colbert,  Marquis  de  Torci. 


THE    DUCHESS    OF   ORLEANS  47 

joked  with.  I  had  suffered  dreadfully  before :  but  from 
this  period  he  confided  in  me  entirely,  and  always  took 
my  part.  By  his  death  I  saw  the  result  of  the  care  and 
pains  of  thirty  years  vanish.  After  Monsieur's  decease, 
the  King  sent  to  ask  me  whither  I  wished  to  retire, 
whether  to  a  convent  in  Paris,  or  to  Maubuisson,  or 
elsewhere.  I  replied  that  as  I  had  the  honour  to  be  of 
the  royal  house  I  could  not  live  but  where  the  King  was, 
and  that  I  intended  to  go  directly  to  Versailles.  The 
King  was  pleased  at  this,  and  came  to  see  me.  He 
somewhat  mortified  me  by  saying  that  he  sent  to  ask 
me  whither  I  wished  to  go,  because  he  had  not  imagined 
that  I  should  choose  to  stay  where  he  was.  I  replied 
that  I  did  not  know  who  could  have  told  His  Majesty 
anything  so  false  and  injurious,  and  that  I  had  a  much 
more  sincere  respect  and  attachment  for  His  Majesty 
than  those  who  had  thus  falsely  accused  me.  The  King 
then  dismissed  all  the  persons  present,  and  we  had  a 
long  explanation,  in  the  course  of  which  the  King  told 
me  I  hated  Madame  de  Maintenon.  I  confessed  that  I 
did  hate  her,  but  only  through  my  attachment  for  him, 
and  because  she  did  me  wrong  to  His  Majesty ;  never- 
theless, I  added,  that  if  it  were  agreeable  to  him  that  I 
should  be  reconciled  to  her,  I  was  ready  to  become  so. 
The  good  lady  was  not  prepared  for  this,  or  she  would 
not  have  suffered  the  King  to  come  to  me ;  he  was, 
however,  so  satisfied  that  he  remained  favourable  to  me 
up  to  his  last  hour.  He  made  old  Maintenon  come,  and 
said  to  her,  "  Madame  is  willing  to  make  friends  with 
you " ;  he  then  caused  us  to  embrace,  and  there  the 
scene  ended.  He  required  her  also  to  live  upon  good 
terms  with  me,  which  she  did  in  appearance,  but  secretly 


48  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

played  me  all  sorts  of  tricks.  It  was  at  this  time  a 
matter  of  indifference  to  me  whether  I  went  to  live  at 
Montargis  or  not,  but  I  would  not  have  the  appearance 
of  doing  so  in  consequence  of  any  disgrace,  and  as  if  I 
had  committed  some  offence  for  which  I  was  driven  from 
the  Court.  I  had  reason  to  fear,  besides,  that  at  the  end 
of  two  days'  journey  I  might  be  left  to  die  of  hunger, 
and  to  avoid  this  risk  I  chose  rather  to  be  reconciled  to 
the  King.  As  to  going  into  a  convent  I  never  once 
thought  of  it,  although  it  was  that  which  old  Maintenon 
most  desired.  The  Castle  of  Montargis  is  my  jointure ; 
at  Orleans  there  is  no  house,  St.  Cloud  is  not  a  part  of 
the  hereditary  property,  but  was  bought  by  Monsieur 
with  his  own  money.  Therefore  my  jointure  produces 
nothing ;  all  that  I  have  to  live  on  comes  from  the  King 
and  my  son.  At  the  commencement  of  my  widowhood 
I  was  left  unpaid,  and  there  was  an  arrear  of  300,000 
francs  due  to  me,  which  were  not  paid  until  after  the 
death  of  Louis  XIV.  What,  then,  would  have  become 
of  me  if  I  had  chosen  to  retire  to  Montargis  ?  My  house- 
hold expenses  amounted  annually  to  298,758  livres. 

Although  Monsieur  received  considerable  wealth 
with  me,  I  was  obliged  after  his  death  to  give  up  to  my 
son,  the  jewels,  moveables,  pictures;  in  short,  all  that 
had  come  from  my  family,  otherwise  I  should  not  have 
had  enough  to  live  according  to  my  rank  and  to  keep  up 
my  establishment,  which  is  large.  In  my  opinion,  to  do 
this  is  much  better  than  to  wear  diamonds. 

My  income  is  not  more  than  456,000  livres ;  and  yet, 
if  it  please  God,  I  will  not  leave  a  farthing  of  debt.  My 
son  has  just  made  me  more  rich  by  adding  150,000  livres 
to  my  pension  (1719).     The  cause  of  almost  all  the  evil 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  49 

which  prevails  here  is  the  passion  of  women  for  play. 
I  have  often  been  told  to  my  face,  "  You  are  good  for 
nothing,  you  do  not  like  play." 

If  by  my  influence  I  can  serve  any  unfortunate 
persons  with  the  different  branches  of  the  Government, 
I  always  do  so  Avillingly  ;  in  case  of  success  I  rejoice  ;  in 
a  less  fortunate  event  I  console  myself  by  the  belief  that  it 
was  not  the  will  of  God. 

After  the  King's  death  I  repaired  to  St.  Cyr  to  pay 
a  visit  to  Madame  de  Maintenon.  On  my  entering  the 
room  she  said  to  me,  "  Madam,  what  do  you  come  here 
for  ?  " 

I  replied,  "  I  come  to  mingle  my  tears  with  those 
of  her  whom  the  King  I  so  much  deplore  loved  most — 
that  is  yourself,  Madam," 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  she  said,  "  he  loved  me  well ;  but  he 
loved  you  also." 

I  replied,  '*  He  did  me  the  honour  to  say  that  he 
would  always  distinguish  me  by  his  friendship,  although 
everything  was  done  to  make  him  hate  me." 

I  wished  thus  to  let  her  understand  that  I  was  quite 
aware  of  her  conduct,  but  that,  being  a  Christian,  I  could 
pardon  my  enemies.  If  she  possessed  any  sensibility  she 
must  have  felt  some  pain  at  thus  receiving  the  forgiveness 
of  one  whom  she  had  incessantly  persecuted. 

The  affair  of  Loube^  is  only  a  small  part  of  what  I 
have  suffered  here. 

I  have  now  no  circle,  for  ladies  ä  tahouvef^  seldom 

1  Franqioise  de  Loube,  Madame's  maid  of  honour.  She  appears 
to  have  held  this  office  in  1685,  but  her  name  is  not  found  in  the  Etat 
of  1689.  It  seems  from  a  MS.  song  written  at  this  time  that  she 
entered  the  household  of  the  Dauphine  in  i68g. 

2  Ladies  having  the  privilege  of  seats  upon  small  stools  in  the 
presence. 

4 


50  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

come  to  me,  not  liking  to  appear  but  in  full  dress.  I 
begged  them  to  be  present  as  usual  at  an  audience,  which 
I  was  to  give  to  the  ambassador  of  Malta,  but  not  one 
of  them  came.  When  the  late  Monsieur  and  the  King 
were  alive,  they  were  more  assiduous ;  they  were  not 
then  so  much  accustomed  to  full  dresses,  and  when  they 
did  not  come  in  sufficient  numbers  Monsieur  threatened 
to  tell  the  King  of  it. 

But  this  is  enough,   as   M.   Biermann  said,   after 
having  preached  four  hours  together. 


SECT.    II. 


LOUIS     XIV. 


When  the  King  pleased  he  could  be  one  of  the  most 
agreeable  and  amiable  men  in  the  world  ;  but  it  was  first 
necessary  that  he  should  be  intimately  acquainted  with 
persons.  He  used  to  joke  in  a  very  comical  and  amusing 
manner. 

The  King,  though  by  no  means  perfect,  possessed 
some  great  and  many  fine  qualities ;  and  by  no  means 
deserved  to  be  defamed  and  despised  by  his  subjects 
after  his  death. 

While  he  lived  he  was  flattered,  even  to  idolatry. 

He  was  so  much  tormented  on  my  account,  that 
I  could  not  have  wondered  if  he  had  hated  me  most 
cordially.  However,  he  did  not ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
he  discovered  that  all  which  was  said  against  me 
sprang  from  malice  and  jealousy. 

If  he  had  not  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  two  of  the  worst  women  in  the  world — 
Montespan,  and  that  old  Maintenon,  who  was  even 
worse  than  the  other,  he  would  have  been  one  of  the 
best  kings  that  ever  lived ;  for  all  the  evil  that  he  ever 
did  proceeded  from  those  two  women,  and  not  from 
himself. 

Although  I  approved  of  many  things  he  did,  I  could 
not  agree  with  him  when  he  maintained  that  it  was 
vulgar  to  love  one's  relations.     Montespan  had  instilled 

4—2 


52  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

this  into  him,  in  order  that  she  might  get  rid  of  all  his 
legitimate  blood  connections,  and  might  suffer  none 
about  him  but  her  bastards  :  she  had  even  carried 
matters  so  far  as  to  seek  to  confine  the  royal  favour 
to  her  offspring  or  her  creatures. 

Our  King  loved  the  chase  passionately  ;  particularly 
hawking  and  stag-hunting. 

One  day  all  the  world  came  to  Marly  to  offer  their 
compliments  of  condolence;  Louis  XIV.,  to  get  rid  of 
the  ceremony,  ordered  that  no  harangues  should  be 
made,  but  that  all  the  Court  should  enter  without 
distinction  and  together  at  one  door,  and  go  out  by  the 
other.  Among  them  came  the  Bishop  of  Gap,  in  a  sort 
of  dancing  step,  weeping  large  hot  tears,  and  smiling  at 
the  same  moment,  which  gave  to  his  face  the  most 
grotesque  appearance  imaginable.  Madame,  the  Dau- 
phine,  and  I,  were  the  first  who  could  not  restrain 
ourselves ;  then  the  Dauphin  and  the  Duke  de  Berri, 
and  at  last  the  King,  and  everybody  who  was  in  the 
chamber  burst  out  into  loud  laughter. 

The  King,  it  must  be  allowed,  gave  occasion  to 
great  scandal  on  account  of  his  mistresses ;  but  then  he 
very  sincerely  repented  of  these  offences. 

He  had  good  natural  wit,  but  was  extremely  igno- 
rant ;  and  was  so  much  ashamed  of  it  that  it  became  the 
fashion  for  his  courtiers  to  turn  learned  men  into  ridicule. 
Louis  XIV.  could  not  endure  to  hear  poHtics  talked ;  he 
was  what  they  call  in  this  country,  franc  du  collier. 

At  Marly  he  did  not  wish  the  slightest  ceremony  to 
prevail.  Neither  ambassadors  nor  other  envoys  were 
ever  permitted  to  come  here ;  he  never  gave  audience ; 
there  was  no  etiquette,  and  the  people  went  about  pele- 


LOUIS  XIV  53 

tnele.  Out  of  doors  the  King  made  all  the  men  wear 
their  hats  ;  and  in  the  drawing-room,  everybody,  even  to 
the  captains,  lieutenants,  and  sub-lieutenants  of  the  foot- 
guards,  were  permitted  to  be  seated.  This  custom  so 
disgusted  me  with  the  drawing-room  that  I  never  went 
to  it. 

The  King  used  to  take  off  his  hat  to  women  of  all 
descriptions,  even  the  common  peasants. 

When  he  liked  people  he  would  tell  them  every- 
thing he  had  heard ;  and  for  this  reason  it  was  always 
dangerous  to  talk  to  him  of  that  old  Maintenon. 

Although  he  loved  flattery,  he  was  very  often  ready 
to  ridicule  it.  IMontespan  and  the  old  woman  had 
spoiled  him  and  hardened  his  heart  against  his  relations, 
for  he  was  naturally  of  a  very  affectionate  disposition. 

Louis  XIV.,  as  well  as  all  the  rest  of  his  family, 
with  the  exception  of  my  son,  hated  reading.  Neither 
the  King  nor  Monsieur  had  been  taught  anything ;  they 
scarcely  knew  how  to  read  and  write.  The  King  was 
the  most  polite  man  in  his  kingdom,  but  his  son  and  his 
grandchildren  were  the  most  rude. 

In  his  youth  he  had  played  in  the  comedy  of  Les 
Visionnaires,^  which  he  knew  by  heart,  and  in  which  he 
acted  better  than  the  comedians.  He  did  not  know  a 
note  of  music ;  but  his  ear  was  so  correct  that  he  could 
play  in  a  masterly  style  on  the  guitar,  and  execute  what- 
ever he  chose. 

It  is  not  astonishing  that  the  King  and  Monsieur 
were  brought  up  in  ignorance.     The  Cardinal  (Mazarin) 

I  A  comedy  of  Desmarets,  for  which  Segrais  says  that  Cardinal 
Richelieu  furnished  the  plot  and  the  chief  characters.  It  was  first 
represented  in  1637. 


54  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

wished  to  reign  absolutely ;  if  the  princes  had  been 
better  instructed  he  would  neither  have  been  trusted  nor 
employed,  and  this  it  was  his  object  to  prevent,  hoping 
that  he  should  live  much  longer  than  he  did.  The 
Queen-mother  found  all  that  the  Cardinal  did  perfectly 
right ;  and,  besides,  it  suited  her  purpose  that  he  should 
be  indispensable.  It  is  almost  a  miracle  that  the  King 
should  have  become  what  he  afterwards  was. 

I  never  saw  the  King  beat  but  two  men,  and  they 
both  well  deserved  it.  The  first  was  a  valet,  who  would 
not  let  him  enter  the  garden  during  one  of  his  own  fetes. 
The  other  was  a  pickpocket,  whom  the  King  saw 
emptying  the  pocket  of  M.  de  Villars.  Louis  XIV.,  who 
was  on  horseback,  rode  towards  the  thief  and  struck  him 
with  his  cane  ;  the  rascal  cried  out,  "  Murder,  I  shall  be 
killed !  "  which  made  us  all  laugh,  and  the  King  laughed 
also.  He  had  the  thief  taken  and  made  him  give  up  the 
purse,  but  he  did  not  have  him  hanged. 

The  Duchess  of  Schomburg  ^  was  a  good  deal 
laughed  at,  because  she  asked  the  King  a  hundred 
questions,  which  is  not  the  fashion  here.  The  King  was 
not  well  pleased  to  be  talked  to ;  but  he  never  laughed  in 
anyone's  face. 

When  Louvois  proposed  to  the  King  for  the  first 
time  that  he  should  appoint  Madame  Dufresnoy,  his 
mistress,  a  lady  of  the  Queen's  bedchamber,  his  Majesty 
replied,  "  Would  you,  then,  have  them  laugh  at  both  of 


I  Marie  de  Hautefort,  formerly  dame  d'atour  of  Anne  of 
Austria,  widow  of  Charles  de  Schombsrg,  Duke  of  Hallwin, 
Marshal  of  France;  she  had  been  loved  by  Louis  XIII.,  and  was 
the  favourite  of  the  Queen-mother,  whose  disgrace,  however,  she 

incurred. 


LOUIS  XIV  55 

us  ? "  Louvois,  however,  persisted  so  earnestly  in  his 
request  that  the  King  at  length  granted  it. 

The  Court  of  France  was  extremely  agreeable  until 
the  King  had  the  misfortune  to  marry  that  old  Main- 
tenon  ;  she  withdrew  him  from  company,  filled  him  with 
ridiculous  scruples  respecting  plays,  and  told  him  that  he 
ought  not  to  see  excommunicated  persons.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  she  had  a  small  theatre  erected  in  her 
own  apartments,  where  plays  were  acted  twice  a  week 
before  the  King.  Instead  of  the  dismissed  comedians  ^ 
she  had  the  Dauphine,  my  son,  the  Duke  de  Berri,  and 
her  own  nieces,  to  play ;  in  her  opinion  this  was 
much  better  than  the  real  comedians.  The  King, 
instead  of  occupying  his  usual  place,  was  seated  behind 
me  in  a  corner,  near  Madame  de  Maintenon ;  this 
arrangement  spoilt  all,  for  the  consequence  was  that  few 
people  saw  him,  and  the  Court  was  almost  deserted. 

Maintenon  told  me  that  the  King  said  to  her : 
"  Now  that  I  am  old  my  children  get  tired  of  me  and  are 
delighted  to  find  any  opportunity  of  fixing  me  here  and 
going  elsewhere  for  their  own  amusement ;  Madame  alone 
stays,  and  I  see  that  she  is  glad  to  be  with  me  still." 
But  she  did  not  tell  me  that  she  had  done  all  in  her 
power  to  persuade  him  of  the  contrary,  and  that  the 
King  spoke  thus  by  way  of  reproaching  her  for  the  lies 
she  had  invented  about  me.  I  learned  that  afterwards 
from  others.     If  the  King  had  been  my  father  I  could 


I  These  dismissed  comedians  had,  as  appears  by  the  edition  of 
1788,  renounced  their  profession,  and  had  been  admitted  to  the 
communion.  After  that,  Madame  de  Maintenon  no  longer  saw  any 
sin  in  them. 


50  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

not   have  loved   him   more   than   I   did ;    I  was  always 
pleased  to  be  with  him. 

He  was  fond  of  the  German  soldiers,  and  said  that 
the  German  horsemen  displayed  more  grace  in  the 
saddle  than  those  of  any  other  nation. 

When  the  King  had  a  design  to  punish  certain 
libertines,  Fagon^  had  an  amusing  conversation  with 
him.     He  said : 

"  Folks  made  love  long  before  you  came  into  the 
world,  and  they  will  always  continue  to  do  so ;  you 
cannot  prevent  them ;  and  when  I  hear  preachers 
talking  in  the  pulpit  and  railing  against  such  as  yield  to 
the  influence  of  the  passion,  I  think  it  is  very  much  as 
if  I  should  say  to  my  phthisical  patients,  '  You  must  not 
cough  ;  it  is  very  wrong  to  spit.'  Young  folks  are  full 
of  humours,  which  must  be  dispersed  by  one  way  or 
another." 

The  King  could  not  refrain  from  laughing. 
He  was  only  superstitious  in  religious  matters ;  for 
example,  with  respect  to  the  miracles  of  the  Virgin,  &c. 

He  had  been  taught  to  believe  that  to  make  friends 
with  his  brother  was  a  great  political  stroke  and  a  fine 
State  device ;  that  it  made  a  part  of  what  is  called  to 
reign  well. 

Since  the  time  of  this  King  it  has  not  been  the 
custom  for  ladies  to  talk  of  the  affairs  of  the  State. 

If  the  King  heard  that  anyone  had  spoken  ill  of  him 
he  displayed  a  proud  resentment  towards  the  offender  ; 
otherwise  it  was  impossible  to  be  more  polite  and  affable 
than  he  was.     His  conversation  was  pleasing  in  a  high 

I  Guy  Crescent  Fagon,  appointed  the  King's  chief  physician  in 
1693,  died  in  1718. 


LOUIS  XIV  57 

degree ;  he  had  the  skill  of  giving  an  agreeable  turn  to 
everything ;  his  manner  of  talking  was  natural,  without 
the  least  affectation,  amiable,  and  obliging.  Although 
he  had  not  so  much  courage  as  Monsieur,  he  was  still 
no  coward.  His  brother  said  that  he  had  always  be- 
haved well  in  occasions  of  danger ;  but  his  chief  fault 
lay  in  being  soon  tired  of  war,  and  wishing  to  return 
home. 

From  the  time  of  his  becoming  so  outrageously 
devout,  all  amusements  were  suspended  for  three  weeks 
(at  Easter) ;  and  before,  they  were  only  discontinued  a 
fortnight. 

The  King  had  a  pecuHarity  of  disposition  which 
led  him  easily  to  behave  harshly  to  persons  who  were 
disagreeable  to  such  as  he  loved.  It  was  thus  that 
La  Valliere  was  so  ill-treated  at  the  instigation  of 
Montespan. 

He  was  much  amused  with  the  Count  de  Gram- 
mont,^  who  was  very  pleasant.  He  loaded  him  with 
proofs  of  his  kindness,  and  invited  him  to  join  all  the 
excursions  to  Marly,  a  decided  mark  of  great  favour. 

The  King  frequently  complained  that  in  his  youth 
he  had  not  been  allowed  to  converse  with  people 
generally,  but  it  was  the  fault  of  his  natural  temper ; 
for  Monsieur,  who  had  been  brought  up  with  him,  used 
to  talk  to  everybody. 

Louis  XIV.  used  to  say  laughingly  to  Monsieur  that 
his  eternal  chattering  had  put  him  out  of  conceit  with 
talking.      "Ah,  mon  Dieu  ! "    he  would   say,  "must  I, 

I  Philibert,  Count  de  Grammont,  St.  Evremond's  hero,  and  so 
well  known  by  means  of  the  Memoirs  of  Count  Antoine  Hamilton, 
his  brother-in-law. 


58  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

to  please   everybody,   say  as  many  silly  things   as   my 
brother?" 

In  general  they  would  not  have  been  taken  for 
brothers.  The  King  was  a  large  man,  and  my  husband 
a  small  one  :  the  latter  had  very  effeminate  inclinations  ; 
he  loved  dress  ;  was  very  careful  of  his  complexion,  and 
took  great  interest  in  feminine  employments  and  in  cere- 
monies. The  King,  on  the  contrary,  cared  little  about 
dress,  loved  the  chase  and  shooting  ;  was  fond  of  talking 
of  war,  and  had  all  manly  tastes  and  habits.  Monsieur 
behaved  well  in  battle,  but  never  talked  of  it ;  he  loved 
women  as  companions,  and  was  pleased  to  be  with 
them.  The  King  loved  to  see  them  somewhat  nearer, 
and  not  entirely  en  honneur,  as  Monsieur^  did.  They 
nevertheless  loved  one  another  much,  and  it  was  very 
interesting  to  see  them  together ;  they  joked  each  other 
sensibly  and  pleasantly,  and  without  ever  quarrelling. 

I  was  never  more  amused  than  in  a  journey  which 
I  took  with  the  King  to  Flanders  ;  the  Queen  and  the 
Dauphine  were  then  alive.  As  soon  as  we  reached  a 
city,  each  of  us  retired  to  our  own  quarters  for  a  short 
time ;  and  afterwards  we  went  to  the  theatre,  which 
was  commonly  so  bad  that  we  were  ready  to  die  with 
laughing.  Among  others,  I  remember  that  at  Dunkirk 
we  saw  a  company  playing  Mithridates.  In  speaking  to 
Monimia,  Mithridates  said  something  which  I  forget,  but 
which  was  very  absurd.  He  turned  round  immediately 
to  the  Dauphine  and  said,  "  I  very  humbly  beg  pardon, 

I  Madame  is  not  a  good  authority  on  this  point.  The  memoirs 
of  the  time  will  show  either  that  she  cannot  have  known  or  must 
have  wilfully  concealed  the  intrigues  of  various  kinds  in  which  her 
husband  was  engaged. 


LOUIS  XIV  59 

Madame,  I  assure  you  it  was  a  slip  of  the  tongue."  The 
laugh  which  followed  this  apology  may  be  imagined ;  but 
it  became  still  greater  when  the  Prince  of  Conti,^  the 
husband  of  La  Grande  Princesse,  who  was  sitting  above  the 
orchestra,  in  a  fit  of  laughing,  fell  into  it ;  he  tried 
to  save  himself  by  the  cord ;  and  in  doing  so,  pulled 
down  the  curtain  over  the  lamps,  set  it  on  fire,  and  burnt 
a  great  hole  in  it.  The  flames  were  soon  extinguished  ; 
and  the  actors,  as  if  they  were  perfectly  indifferent,  or 
unconscious  of  the  accident,  continued  to  play  on, 
although  we  could  only  see  them  through  the  hole. 
When  there  was  no  play  we  took  airings  and  had 
collations  ;  in  short,  every  day  brought  something  new. 
After  the  King's  supper  we  went  to  see  magnificent 
artificial  fireworks  given  by  the  cities  of  Flanders. 
Everybody  was  gay ;  the  Court  was  in  perfect  unan- 
imity, and  no  one  thought  of  anything  but  to  laugh  and 
seek  amusement. 

If  the  King  had  known  the  Duchess  of  Hanover, 
he  would  not  have  been  displeased  at  her  calling  him 
"  Monsieur."  As  she  was  a  Sovereign  Princess,  he 
thought  it  was  through  pride  that  she  would  not  call 
him  "  Sire,"  and  this  mortified  him  excessively,  for  he 
was  very  sensible  on  such  subjects. 

One  day,  before  Roquelaure^  was  made  a  Duke, 
he  was  out  when  it  rained  violently,  and  he  ordered  his 

I  Louis  Armaud  de  Bourbon,  Prince  of  Conti,  married  in  1780 
to  Marie-Anne,  commonly  called  Mademoiselle  de  Blois,  one  of  the 
legitimated  daughters  of  Louis  XIV.  by  Madame  de  la  Valliere. 
She  was  called  at  Court  La  Grande  Princesse  on  account  of  her  beauty 
and  her  stature. 

2  Gaston,  Duke  de  Roquelaure,  celebrated  for  his  wit ;  created 
a  Duke  in  1652. 


6o  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

coachman  to  drive  to  the  Louvre,  where  the  entrance 
was  permitted  to  none  but  Ambassadors,  Princes,  and 
Dukes.  When  his  carriage  arrived  at  the  gate,  they 
asked  who  it  was. 

"  A  Duke,"  replied  he. 
"  What  Duke  ?  "  repeated  the  sentinel. 
"  The  Duke  d'Epernon,"  said  he. 
"  Which  of  them  ?  " 

'•  The  one  who  died  last  " ;  and  upon  this  they  let 
him  enter.  Fearing  afterwards  that  he  might  get  into  a 
scrape  about  it,  he  went  directly  to  the  King.  "  Sire," 
said  he,  "  it  rains  so  hard  that  I  came  in  my  coach  even 
to  the  foot  of  your  staircase." 

The  King  was  displeased.  *'  What  fool  let  you 
enter  ?  "  he  asked. 

•*  A  greater  fool  than  your  Majesty  can  imagine," 
replied  Roquelaure,  "  for  he  admitted  me  in  the  name  of 
the  Duke  d'Epernon  who  died  last." 

This  ended  the  King's  anger  and  made  him  laugh 
very  heartily. 

So  great  a  fear  of  hell  had  been  instilled  into  the 
King  that  he  not  only  thought  everybody  who  did  not 
profess  the  faith  of  the  Jesuits  would  be  damned  ;  but  he 
even  thought  he  was  in  some  danger  himself  by  speaking 
to  such  persons.  If  anyone  was  to  be  ruined  with  the 
King,  it  was  only  necessary  to  say,  "  He  is  a  Huguenot 
or  a  Jansenist,"  and  his  business  was  immediately 
settled.  My  son  was  about  to  take  into  his  service  a 
gentleman  whose  mother  was  a  professed  Jansenist.  The 
Jesuits,  by  way  of  embroiling  my  son  with  the  King, 
represented  that  he  was  about  to  engage  a  Jansenist  on 
his  establishment. 


LOUIS  XIV  6i 

The  King  immediately  sent  for  him  and  said : 
"  How  is  this,  nephew  ?  I  understand  you  think  of 
employing   a   Jansenist   in   your  service." 

"  Oh  no !  "  rephed  my  son,  laughing,  "  I  can  assure 
your  Majesty  that  he  is  not  a  Jansenist,  and  I  even  doubt 
whether  he  beHeves  in  the  existence  of  a  God." 

"Oh,  well  then,"  said  the  King,  "if  that  be  the 
case,  and  you  are  sure  that  he  is  no  Jansenist,  you  may 
take  him." 

It  is  impossible  for  a   man  to  be  more  ignorant  of 
religion  than  the  King  was.     I  cannot  understand  how 
his  mother  the  Queen  could  have  brought  him  up  with  so 
little  knowledge  on  this  subject.      He  beheved  all  that 
the  priests  said  to  him,  as  if  it  came  from  God  Himself. 
That  old  Maintenon  and  Pere  la  Chaise  had  persuaded 
him  that  all  the  sins  he  had  committed  with  Madame 
de  Montespan  would  be  pardoned  if  he  persecuted  and 
extirpated  the  professors  of  the  reformed  religion,  and  that 
this   was   the   only    path   to   heaven.      The   poor   King 
believed  it  fervently,  for  he  had  never  seen  a  Bible  in  his 
life;   and  immediately  after   this   the   persecution    com- 
menced.    He  knew  no  more  of  religion  than  what  his 
confessors  chose  to  tell  him,   and  they   had   made  him 
believe  that  it  was  not  lawful  to  investigate  in  matters  of 
religion,  but  that  the  reason  should  be  prostrated  in  order 
to   gain    heaven.      He    was,    however,    earnest    enough 
himself,  and  it  was  not  his  fault  that  hypocrisy  reigned 
at    Court.      The   old    Maintenon   had   forced   people   to 
assume  it. 

It  was  formerly  the  custom  to  swear  horridly  on  all 
occasions;  the  King  detested  this  practice,  and  soon 
abolished  it. 


62  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

He  was  very  capable  of  gratitude,  but  neither  hia 
children  nor  his  grandchildren  were.  He  could  not  bear 
to  be  made  to  wait  for  anything. 

He  said  that  by  means  of  chains  of  gold  he  could 
obtain  anything  he  wished  from  the  ministers  at  Vienna. 

He  could  not  forgive  the  French  ladies  for  affecting 
English  fashions.  He  used  often  to  joke  about  it ;  and 
particularly  in  the  conversation  which  he  addressed  to 
me,  expecting  that  I  would  take  it  up  and  tease  the 
Princesses:  to  amuse  him,  I  sometimes  said  whatever 
came  into  my  head  without  the  least  ceremony,  and 
often  made  him  laugh  heartily. 

Reversi  was  the  only  game  at  which  the  King 
played,  and  which  he  liked. 

When  he  did  not  like  openly  to  reprove  any  person, 
he  would  address  himself  to  me ;  for  he  knew  that  I 
never  restrained  myself  in  conversation,  and  that  amused 
him  infinitely.  At  table,  he  was  almost  obliged  to  talk 
to  me,  for  the  others  scarcely  said  a  word.  In  the 
cabinet,  after  supper,  there  were  none  but  the  Duchess^ 
and  I  who  spoke  to  him.  I  do  not  know  whether  the 
Dauphine  used  to  converse  with  the  King  in  the  cabinets, 
for  while  she  was  alive  I  was  never  permitted  to  enter 
them,  thanks  to  Madame  de  Maintenon's  interference; 
the  Dauphine  objected  to  it ;  the  King  would  willingly 
have  had  it  so  ;  but  he  dare  not  assert  his  will  for  fear 
of  displeasing  the  Dauphine  and  the  old  woman.  I  was 
not  therefore  suffered  to  enter  until  after  the  death  of 
the  Dauphine,  and  then  only  because  the  King  wished  to 

I  Anne  of  Bavaria,  wife  of  Henri-Jules,  Duke  of  Bourbon,  son 
of  the  great  Conde;  she  bore  the  title  of  Madame  La  Princesse  after 
his  death. 


LOUIS   XIV  63 

have  someone  who  would  talk  to  him  in  the  evening  to 
dissipate  his  melancholy  thoughts,  in  which  I  did  my 
best.  He  was  dissatisfied  with  his  daughters  on  both 
sides,  who,  instead  of  trying  to  console  him  in  his  grief, 
thought  only  of  amusing  themselves,  and  the  good  King 
might  often  have  remained  alone  the  whole  evening  if  I 
had  not  visited  his  cabinet.  He  was  very  sensible  of 
this,  and  said  to  Maintenon,  ««  Madame  is  the  only  one 
who  does  not  abandon  me." 

Louis  XIV.  spoiled  the  Jesuits  ;  he  thought  what- 
ever came  from  them  must  be  admirable,  whether  it 
was  right  or  wrong. 

The  King  did  not  like  Hving  in  town  ;  he  was  con- 
vinced that  the  people  did  not  love  him,  and  that  there 
was  no  security  for  him  among  them.  Maintenon  had 
him,  besides,  more  under  her  sway  at  Versailles  than  at 
Paris,  where  there  was  certainly  no  security  for  her. 
She  was  universally  detested  there  ;  and  whenever  she 
went  out  in  a  carriage  the  populace  shouted  loud  threats 
against  her,  so  that  at  last  she  dared  not  appear  in 
public. 

At  first  the  King  was  in  the  habit  of  dining  with 
Madame  de  Montespan  and  his  children,  and  then  no 
person  went  to  visit  him  but  the  Dauphin  and  Monsieur. 
When  Montespan  was  dismissed,  the  King  had  all  his 
illegitimate  children  in  his  cabinet :  this  continued  until 
the  arrival  of  the  last  Dauphine ;  she  intruded  herself 
among  the  bastards  to  their  great  affliction.  When  the 
Duchess^   became   the   favourite   of    the   Dauphin,   she 

I  Louise-Frangoise.  commonly  called  Mademoiselle  de  Nantes 
the  legitimated  daughter  of  Madame  de  Montespan  and  the  Kin-' 
was  married  to  the  Duke  de  Bourbon  in  1685.  °' 


64  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

begged  that  no  other  persons  of  the  royal  house  might 
have  access  to  the  cabinet ;  and  therefore  my  request  for 
admission,  although  not  refused,  was  never  granted 
until  after  the  death  of  the  Dauphin  and  Dauphine. 
The  latter  accompanied  the  King  to  places  where  I  did 
not,  and  could  not  go,  for  she  even  went  with  him  upon 
occasions  when  decency  ought  to  have  forbidden  her 
presence.  Maintenon  did  the  same  thing,  for  the 
purpose  of  having  an  opportunity  of  talking  to  the 
King  in  secret. 

Louis  XIV.  loved  the  young  Dauphine  so  well  that 
he  dared  refuse  her  nothing ;  and  Maintenon  had  so 
violent  a  hatred  against  me  that  she  was  ready  to  do 
me  all  the  mischief  in  her  power.  What  could  the  King 
do  against  the  inclinations  of  his  son  and  his  grand- 
daughter ?  they  would  have  looked  cross,  and  that  would 
have  grieved  him,  I  had  no  inclination  to  cause  him 
any  vexation,  and  therefore  preferred  exercising  my  own 
patience.  When  I  had  anything  to  say  to  the  King,  I 
requested  a  private  audience,  which  threw  them  all 
into  despair,  and  furnished  me  with  a  good  laugh  in 
my  sleeve. 

The  King  was  so  much  devoted  to  the  old  usages  of 
the  Royal  Palace  that  he  would  not  for  the  world  have 
departed  from  them.  Madame  de  Fiennes  was  in  the 
habit  of  saying  that  the  Royal  Family  adhered  so  strictly 
to  their  habits  and  customs  that  the  Queen  of  England 
died  with  a  toquet  on  her  head ;  that  is,  a  little  cap  which 
is  put  upon  children  when  they  go  to  bed. 

When  the  King  denied  anything  it  was  not  permitted 
to  argue  with  him ;  what  he  commanded  must  be  done 
quickly  and   without  reply.      He  was  too  much  accus- 


MARIE-THERESE   OF  AUSTRIA,   QUEEN  OF 
FRANCE 


After  the  painting  by  Henri  a7id  Charles  Beaubruii, 
in  the  gallery  at    Versailles 


^^yAyU  ^se/:Jy'  4S^M,„.  7^^ 


-^yc^yn^-fiooJyi^tSiM^,'-  >y^ 


LOUIS    XIV  65 

tomed  to  "  such  is  our  good  pleasure,"  to  endure  any 
contradiction. 

He  was  always  kind  and  generous  when  he  acted 
from  his  own  impulses.  He  never  thought  that  his  last 
will  would  he  observed ;  and  he  said  to  several  people, 
"  They  have  made  me  sign  a  will  and  some  other  papers  ; 
I  have  done  it  for  the  sake  of  being  quiet,  but  I  know 
very  well  that  it  will  not  stand  good." 

The  good  King  was  old ;  he  stood  in  need  of  repose, 
and  he  could  not  enjoy  it  by  any  other  means  than  by 
doing  whatever  that  old  Maintenon  wished  ;  thus  it  was 
that  this  artful  hussy  always  accomplished  her  ends. 

The  King  used  always  to  call  the  Duke  de  Verneuil  ^ 
his  uncle. 

It  has  been  said  and  believed  that  Louis  XIV. 
retired  from  the  war  against  Holland  through  pure 
generosity ;  but  I  know,  as  well  as  I  know  my  own  name, 
that  he  came  back  solely  for  the  purpose  of  seeing 
Madame  de  Montespan,  and  to  stay  with  her.  I  know 
also  many  examples  of  great  events,  which  in  history 
have  been  attributed  to  policy  or  ambition,  but  which 
have  originated  from  the  most  insignificant  trifles.  It 
has  been  said  that  it  was  our  King's  ambition  had  made 
him  resolve  to  become  the  master  of  the  world,  and  that 
it  was  for  this  he  commenced  the  Dutch  war;  but  I 
know  from  an  indisputable  source  that  it  was  entered 
upon  only  because  M.  de  Lionne,  then  Minister  of  State, 
was  jealous  of  Prince  William  of  Furstenberg,  who  had 
an  intrigue  with  his  wife,  of  which  he  had  been  apprised. 

I  Henri,  Duke  de  Verneuil,  natural  son  of  Henri  IV.  and  of 
Henriette  de  Balzac  d'Entragues,  Marchioness  de  Verneuil. 

5 


66  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

It  was  this  that  caused  him  to  engage  in  those  quarrels 
which  afterwards  produced  the  war. 

It  was  not  surprising  that  the  King  was  insensible 
to  the  scarcity  which  prevailed,  for  in  the  first  place  he 
had  seen  nothing  of  it,  and  in  the  second,  he  had  been 
told  that  all  the  reports  which  had  reached  him  were 
falsehoods,  and  that  they  were  in  no  respect  true.  Old 
Maintenon  invented  this  plan  for  getting  money,  for  she 
had  bought  up  all  the  corn  for  the  purpose  of  retailing  it 
at  a  high  price.  Everybody  had  been  requested  to  say 
nothing  about  it  to  the  King,  lest  it  should  kill  him  with 
vexation. 

The  King  loved  my  son  as  well  as  his  own,  but  he 
cared  little  for  the  girls.  He  was  very  fond  of  Monsieur, 
and  he  had  reason  to  be  so :  never  did  a  child  pay  a 
more  implicit  obedience  to  its  parents  than  did  Monsieur 
to  the  King,  it  was  a  real  veneration  ;  and  the  Dauphin, 
too,  had  for  him  a  veneration,  affection  and  submission, 
such  as  never  son  had  for  a  father.  The  King  was 
inconsolable  for  his  death.  He  never  had  much  regard 
for  the  Duke  of  Burgundy ;  the  old  sorceress  (Maintenon) 
had  slandered  him  to  the  King,  and  made  the  latter 
believe  that  he  was  of  an  ambitious  temper,  and  was 
impatient  at  the  King's  living  so  long.  She  did  this  in 
order  that  if  the  Prince  should  one  day  open  his  eyes, 
and  perceive  the  manner  in  which  his  wife  had  been 
educated,  his  complaints  might  have  no  effect  with  the 
King,  which  really  took  place.  Louis  XIV.  at  last 
thought  everything  that  the  Dauphine  of  Burgundy  did 
was  quite  charming;  old  Maintenon  made  him  believe 
that  her  only  aim  was  to  divert  him.  This  old  woman 
was  to  him  both  the  law  and  the  prophets ;  all  that  she 


LOUIS   XIV  67 

approved  was  good,  and  what  she  condemned  was  bad, 
no  matter  how  estimable  it  really  was.  The  most 
innocent  actions  of  the  first  Dauphine  were  represented 
as  crimes,  and  all  the  impertinences  of  the  second  were 
admired. 

A  person  who  had  been  for  many  years  in  immediate 
attendance  upon  the  King,  who  had  been  engaged 
with  him  every  evening  at  Maintenon's,  and  who  must 
consequently  have  heard  everything  that  was  said,  is 
one  of  my  very  good  friends,  and  he  has  told  me  that 
although  while  the  old  lady  was  living  he  dare  not  say  a 
word,  yet,  she  being  dead,  he  was  at  liberty  to  tell  me 
that  the  King  had  always  professed  a  real  friendship  for 
me.  This  person  has  often  heard  with  his  own  ears 
Maintenon  teasing  the  King,  and  speaking  ill  of  me  for 
the  purpose  of  rendering  me  hateful  in  his  eyes,  but  the 
King  always  took  my  part.  It  was  in  reference  to  this, 
I  have  no  doubt,  that  the  King  said  to  me  on  his  death- 
bed: "  They  have  done  all  they  could  to  make  me  hate 
you,  Madame,  but  they  have  not  succeeded  "  ;  he  added 
that  he  had  always  known  me  too  well  to  believe  their 
calumnies.  While  he  spoke  thus,  the  old  woman  stood 
by  with  so  guilty  an  air  that  I  could  not  doubt  they  had 
proceeded  from  her. 

Monsieur  often  took  a  pleasure  in  diminishing  or 
depriving  me  of  the  King's  favour,  and  the  King  was  not 
sorry  for  some  little  occasions  to  blame  Monsieur.  He 
told  me  once  that  he  had  embroiled  me  with  Monsieur 
by  policy. 

I  was  alarmed,  and  said  immediately,  "  Perhaps 
your  Majesty  may  do  the  same  thing  again." 

The  King  laughed,  and  said,  "  No,  if  I  had  intended 

5—2 


6S  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

to  do  SO  I  should  not  have  told  you  of  it ;  and  to  say  the 
truth,  I  had  some  scruples  about  it,  and  have  resolved 
never  to  do  so  again." 

Upon  the  death  of  one  of  his  children,  the  King 
asked  of  his  old  medical  attendant,  M.  Gueneau:  *'  Pray 
how  does  it  happen  that  my  illegitimate  children  are 
healthy  and  live,  while  all  the  Queen's  children  are  so 
delicate  and  always  die?" — "Sire,"  replied  Gueneau, 
"it  is  because  the  Queen  has  only  the  rinsings  of  the 
glass." 

He  always  slept  in  the  Queen's  bed,  but  did  not 
always  accommodate  himself  to  the  Spanish  tempera- 
ment of  that  Princess  ;  so  that  the  Queen  knew  he  had 
been  elsewhere.  The  King,  nevertheless,  had  always 
great  consideration  for  her,  and  made  his  mistresses  treat 
her  with  all  becoming  respect.  He  loved  her  for  her 
virtue,  and  for  the  sincere  affection  she  bore  to  him, 
notwithstanding  his  infidelity.  He  was  much  affected 
at  her  death ;  but  four  days  afterwards,  by  the  chattering 
of  old  Maintenon,  he  was  consoled.  A  few  days  after- 
wards we  went  to  Fontainebleau,  and  expected  to  find 
the  King  in  an  ill-humour,  and  that  we  should  be  scolded  ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  he  was  very  gay. 

When  the  King  returned  from  a  journey  we  were 
all  obliged  to  be  at  the  carriage  as  he  got  out,  for  the 
purpose  of  accompanying  him  to  his  apartment. 

While  Louis  XIV.  was  young  all  the  women  were 
running  after  him  ;  but  he  renounced  this  sort  of  life 
when  he  flattered  himself  that  he  had  grown  devout. 
His  motive  was,  Madame  de  Maintenon  watched  him  so 
narrowly  that  he  could  not,  dare  not,  look  at  anyone. 
She  disgusted  him  with  everybody  else  that  she  might 


LOUIS    XIV  69 

have  him  to  herself,  and  this,  too,  under  the  pretext  of 
taking  care  of  his  soul. 

Madame  de  Colonne  had  a  great  share  of  wit,  and 
our  King  was  so  much  in  love  with  her,  that  if  her  uncle 
the  Cardinal  had  consented  he  would  certainly  have 
married  her.  Cardinal  Mazarin,  although  in  every  other 
respect  a  worthless  person,  deserved  to  be  praised  for 
having  opposed  this  marriage.  He  sent  his  niece  into 
Italy.  When  she  was  setting  out,  the  King  wept 
violently.  Madame  de  Colonne  said  to  him,  "  You  are 
a  King;  you  weep,  and  yet  I  go."  This  was  saying  a 
great  deal  in  a  few  words.  As  to  the  Countess  of 
Soissons,  the  King  had  always  more  of  friendship  than 
of  love  for  her.  He  made  her  very  considerable  presents, 
the  least  of  which  was  to  the  amount  of  2,000  louis. 

Madame  de  Ludres,  the  King's  mistress,  was  ot  an 
agreeable  person ;  she  had  been  maid  of  honour  to 
Monsieur's  first  wife,^  and  after  her  death  she  entered  the 
Queen's  service,  but  when  these  places  were  afterwards 
abolished.  Monsieur  took  back  Ludres  and  Dampierre, 
the  two  ladies  of  honour  he  had  given  to  the  Queen. 
The  former  was  called  Madame,  because  she  was 
canoness  of  a  chapter^  at  Lorraine.  It  is  said  that  the 
King  never  observed  her  beauty  while  she  was  with  the 
Queen,  and  that  it  was  not  until  she  was  with  me  that 
he  fell  in  love  with  her.  Her  reign  lasted  only  two 
years.  Montespan  told  the  King  that  Ludres  had 
certain  ringworms  upon  her  body,  caused  by  a  poison 
which  had  been  given  her  in  her  youth  by  Madame  de 
Cantecroix.     At  twelve  or  thirteen  years  of  age,  she  had 

1  Henrietta  of  England. 

2  Canoness  of  Poussay. 


70  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

inspired  the  old  Duke  de  Lorraine  with  so  violent  a 
passion  that  he  resolved  to  marry  her  at  all  events. 
The  poison  caused  eruptions,  covered  her  with  ringworms 
from  head  to  foot,  and  prevented  the  marriage.  She 
was  cured  so  well  as  to  preserve  the  beauty  of  her  figure, 
but  she  was  always  subject  to  occasional  eruptions. 
Although  now  (171 8)  more  than  seventy  years  old,  she  is 
still  beautiful ;  she  has  as  fine  features  as  can  be  seen, 
but  a  very  disagreeable  manner  of  speaking  :  she  lisps 
horribly ;  she  is,  however,  a  good  sort  of  person.  Since 
she  has  been  converted  she  thinks  of  nothing  but  the 
education  of  her  nieces,  and  limits  her  own  expenses  that 
she  may  give  the  more  to  her  brother's  children.  She  is 
in  a  convent  at  Nancy,  which  she  is  at  liberty  to  quit 
when  she  pleases.  She,  as  well  as  her  nieces,  enjoys 
pensions  from  the  King. 

I  have  seen  Beauvais,  that  femme  de  chambre  of  the 
Queen-mother,  a  one-eyed  creature,  who  is  said  to  have 
first  taught  the  King  the  art  of  intriguing.  She  was 
perfectly  acquainted  with  all  its  mysteries,  and  had  led  a 
very  profligate  life ;  she  lived  several  years  after  my 
arrival  in  France. 

Louis  XIV.  carried  his  gallantries  to  debauchery  ; 
provided  they  were  women,  all  were  alike  to  him : 
peasants,  gardeners'  girls,  fcmmes  de  chambre,  or  ladies  of 
quality ;  all  that  they  had  to  do  was  to  seem  to  be  in 
love  with  him. 

For  a  long  time  before  his  death,  however,  he  had 
ceased  to  run  after  women :  he  even  exiled  the  Duchess 
de  la  Ferte,  because  she  pretended  to  be  dying  for  him. 
When  she  could  not  see  him,  she  had  his  portrait  in  her 
carriage  to  contemplate  it.     The  King  said  that  it  made 


LOUIS    XIV  -I 

him  ridiculous,  and  desired  her  to  retire  to  her  own 
estate.  The  Duchess  de  Roquelaure,  of  the  house  of 
Laval,  was  also  suspected  of  wishing  to  captivate  the 
King ;  but  his  Majesty  was  not  so  severe  with  her  as 
with  La  Ferte.  There  was  great  talk  in  the  scandalous 
circles  about  this  intrigue  ;  but  I  did  not  thrust  my  nose 
into  the  affair. 

I  am  convinced  that  the  Duchess  de  la  Valliere 
always  loved  the  King  very  much.  Montespan  loved 
him  for  ambition,  La  Soubise  for  interest,  and  Maintenon 
for  both.  La  Fontange  loved  him  also,  but  only  like  the 
heroine  of  a  romance;  she  was  a  furiously  romantic 
person.  Ludres  was  also  very  much  attached  to  him, 
but  the  King  soon  got  tired  of  her.  As  for  Madame 
de  Monaco,  I  would  not  take  an  oath  that  she  never 
intrigued  with  the  King.  While  the  King  was  fond  of 
her,  Lauzun,  who  had  a  regular  though  a  secret 
arrangement  with  his  cousin,  fell  into  disgrace  for  the 
first  time.  He  had  forbidden  his  fair  one  to  see  the 
King;  but  finding  her  one  day  sitting  on  the  ground, 
and  talking  with  His  Majesty,  Lauzun,  who,  in  his  place' 
as  Captain  of  the  guard,  was  in  the  Chamber,  was  so 
transported  with  jealousy,  that  he  could  not  restrain 
himself;  and,  pretending  to  pass,  he  trod  so  violently  on 
the  hand  which  Madame  de  Monaco  had  placed  upon  the 
ground,  that  he  nearly  crushed  it.  The  King,  who  thus 
guessed  at  their  intrigue,  reprimanded  him:  Lauzun 
repHed  insolently;  and  was  sent  for  the  first  time  to 
the  Bastille. 

Madame  de  Soubise  was  cunning,  full  of  dissimula- 
tion, and  very  wicked  ;  she  deceived  the  good  Queen 
cruelly ;  but  the  latter  rewarded  her  for  this  in  exposing 


72  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

her  falsehood  and  in  unmasking  her  to  the  world.  As 
soon  as  the  King  had  undeceived  Her  Majesty  with 
respect  to  this  woman,  her  history  became  notorious,  and 
the  Queen  amused  herself  in  relating  her  triumph,  as  she 
called  it,  to  everybody. 

The  King  and  Monsieur  had  been  accustomed  from 
their  childhood  to  great  filthiness  in  the  interior  of  their 
houses;  so  much  so,  that  they  did  not  know  it  ought 
to  be  otherwise ;  and  yet  in  their  persons  they  were 
particularly  neat. 

Madame  de  la  Motte,  who  had  been  at  Chaillot, 
preferred  the  old  Marquess  de  Richelieu  to  the  King; 
she  declared  to  His  Majesty  that  her  heart  was  no  longer 
disposable,  but  that  it  was  at  length  fixed, 

I  can  never  think  without  anger  of  the  evil  which 
has  been  spoken  of  the  late  King;  and  how  little  His 
Majesty  has  been  regretted  by  those  to  whom  he  had 
done  so  much  good. 

I  hardly  dare  repeat  what  the  King  said  to  me  on 
his  death-bed.  All  those  who  were  usually  in  his 
cabinet  were  present  with  the  exception  of  the  Princess 
his  daughter,  the  Princess  of  Conti,  and  Madame  de 
Vendome,  who,  alone,  did  not  see  the  King :  the  whole 
of  the  Royal  Family  was  assembled.  He  recommended 
his  legitimated  daughters  to  live  together  in  concord ; 
and  I  was  the  innocent  cause  of  his  saying  something 
disagreeable  to  them.  When  the  King  said,  "  I  recom- 
mend you  all  to  be  united,"  I  thought  he  alluded  to  me 
and  my  son's  daughter  ;  and  I  said,  "  Yes,  Monsieur, 
you  shall  be  obeyed."  He  turned  towards  me,  and 
said  in  a  stern  voice,  "  Madame,  you  thought  I  spoke 
of  you  :  no,  no  ;  you  are  a  sensible  person,  and  I  know 


LOUIS  XIV  73 

you  ;  it  is  to  the  Princesses,  who  are  not  so,  that  I 
speak." 

Louis  XIV.  proved  at  his  death  that  he  was  really  a 
great  man  ;  for  it  would  be  impossible  to  die  with  more 
courage  than  he  displayed.  For  eight  days  he  had 
incessantly  the  approach  of  death  before  his  eyes  with- 
out betraying  fear  or  apprehension  ;  he  arranged  every 
thing  as  if  he  had  only  been  going  to  make  a  journey. 

Eight  or  ten  days  before  his  death  a  disease  had 
appeared  in  his  leg;  a  gangrene  ensued,  and  it  was  this 
which  caused  his  death.  But  for  three  months  preceding 
he  had  been  afflicted  with  a  slow  fever,  which  had 
reduced  him  so  much  that  he  looked  like  a  lath.  That 
old  rogue,  Fagon,  had  brought  him  to  this  condition  by 
administering  purgatives  and  sudorifics  of  the  most 
violent  kind.  At  the  instigation  of  Pere  Letellier,  he 
had  been  tormented  to  death  by  the  cursed  constitution,'^ 
and  had  not  been  allowed  to  rest  day  or  night.  Fagon 
was  a  wicked  old  scoundrel,  much  more  attached  to 
Maintenon  than  to  the  King.  When  I  perceived  how 
much  it  was  sought  to  exalt  the  Duke  du  Maine,  and 
that  the  old  woman  cared  so  little  for  the  King's  death, 
I  could  not  help  entertaining  unfavourable  notions  of 
this  old  rascal. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  Louis  XIV.  was  the  finest 
man  in  his  kingdom  ;  no  person  had  a  better  appearance 
than  he  ;  his  figure  was  agreeable,  his  legs  well  made,  his 
feet  small,  his  voice  pleasant ;  he  was  lusty  in  proportion  ; 
and  in  short,  no  fault  could  be  found  with  his  person. 
Some  folks  thought  he  was  too  corpulent  for  his  height, 
and  that  Monsieur  was  too  stout ;  so  that  it  was  said,  by 

I  The  affair  of  the  Bull  Unigenitus. 


74  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

way  of  joke  at  Court,  that  there  had  been  a  mistake,  and 
that  one  brother  had  received  what  had  been  intended 
for  the  other.  The  King  was  in  the  habit  of  keeping  his 
mouth  open  in  an  awkward  way. 

An  EngUsh  gentleman,  Mr.  Hammer,  found  him  an 
expert  fencer. 

He  preserved  his  good  looks  up  to  his  death ; 
although  some  of  my  ladies,  who  saw  him  afterwards, 
told  me  that  he  could  scarcely  be  recognized.  Before  his 
death,  his  stature  had  been  diminished  by  a  head ;  and 
he  perceived  this  himself. 

His  pronunciation  was  very  distinct  ;  but  all  his 
children,  from  the  Dauphin  to  the  Count  de  Toulouse, 
lisped  ;  they  used  to  say,  Pahi,  instead  of  Paris. 

In  general,  the  King  would  have  no  persons  at  his 
table  but  members  of  the  Royal  Family.  As  for  the 
Princesses  of  the  blood,  there  were  so  many  of  them 
that  the  ordinary  table  would  not  have  held  them ;  and 
indeed,  when  we  were  all  there,  it  was  quite  full.  The 
King  used  to  sit  in  the  middle,  and  had  the  Dauphin  and 
the  Duke  of  Burgundy  at  his  right,  and  the  Dauphine 
and  the  Duchesse  de  Berri  on  his  left ;  on  one  of  the 
sides  Monsieur  and  I  sat ;  and  on  the  other,  my  son 
and  his  wife  ;  the  other  parts  of  the  table  were  reserved 
for  the  noblemen  in  waiting,  who  did  not  take  their 
places  behind  the  King,  but  opposite  to  him.  When 
the  Princesses  of  the  blood  or  any  other  ladies  were 
received  at  the  King's  table,  we  were  waited  on  not  by 
noblemen  but  by  other  officers  of  the  King's  household, 
who  stood  behind  like  pages.  The  King  upon  such 
occasions  was  waited  on  by  his  chief  Mattre  d'Hötel. 
The   pages   never  waited  at   the    King's   table,    but  on 


LOUIS  XIV  75 

journeys ;  and  then  upon  no  person  but  the  King.  The 
Royal  Family  had  persons  to  attend  them  who  were  not 
ncble.  Formerly,  all  the  King's  officers,  such  as  the 
butler,  the  cup-bearer,  &c.,  &c.,  were  persons  of  rank;  but 
afterwards,  the  nobiHty  becoming  poor  could  not  afford 
to  buy  the  high  offices ;  and  they  fell,  of  necessity,  into 
the  hands  of  more  wealthy  citizens  who  could  pay  for 
them. 

The  King,  the  late  IMonsieur,  the  Dauphin,  and  the 
Duke  de  Berri  were  great  eaters.  I  have  often  seen  the 
King  eat  four  platefuls  of  different  soups,  a  whole 
pheasant,  a  partridge,  a  plateful  of  salad,  mutton  hashed 
with  garlic,  two  good-sized  slices  of  ham,  a  dish  of 
pastry,  and  afterwards  fruit  and  sweetmeats.  The  King 
and  Monsieur  were  very  fond  of  hard  eggs. 

Louis  XIV.  understood  perfectly  the  art  of  satis- 
fying people  even  while  he  reproved  their  requests.  His 
manners  were  most  affable,  and  he  spoke  with  so  much 
politeness  as  to  win  all  hearts. 


SECT.  III. 

MADEMOISELLE    DE    FONTANGE. 

I  HAD  a  Maid  of  Honour  whose  name  was  Beauvais  ; 
she  was  a  very  well-disposed  person :  the  King  fell  in 
love  with  her,  but  she  remained  firm  against  all  his 
attempts.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  her  companion, 
Fontange,  who  was  also  very  pretty,  but  not  very  sen- 
sible. When  he  first  saw  her  he  said,  "  There  is  a  wolf 
that  will  not  eat  me  "  ;  and  yet  he  became  very  fond  of 
her  soon  afterwards.  Before  she  came  to  me  she  had 
dreamt  all  that  was  to  befall  her,  and  a  pious  Capuchin 
explained  her  dream  to  her.  She  told  me  of  it  herself 
long  before  she  became  the  King's  mistress.  She  dreamt 
that  she  had  ascended  a  high  mountain,  and  having 
reached  the  summit  she  was  dazzled  by  an  exceedingly 
bright  cloud  ;  then  on  a  sudden  she  found  herself  in 
such  profound  darkness  that  her  terror  at  this  accident 
awoke  her.  When  she  told  her  confessor  he  said  to 
her: — "Take  care  of  yourself;  that  mountain  is  the 
Court,  where  some  distinction  awaits  you  ;  it  will,  how- 
ever, be  but  of  short  duration  :  if  you  abandon  your 
God  He  will  forsake  you  and  you  will  fall  into  eternal 
darkness." 

There  is  no  doubt  that  Fontange  died  by  poison ; 
she  accused  Montespan  of  being  the  cause  of  her  death. 
A  servant  who  had  been  bribed  by  that  favourite 
destroyed    her   and   some  of    her   people    by    means   of 


MADEMOISELLE    DE    FONTANGE  77 

poison  mixed  with  milk.     Two  of  them  died  with  her, 
and  said  publicly  that  they  had  been  poisoned. 

Fontange  was  a  stupid  little  creature,  but  she 
had  a  very  good  heart.  She  was  very  red-haired,  but 
beautiful  as  an  angel  from  head  to  foot. 


SECT.   IV. 

MADAME    DE    LA   VALLlfeRE. 

When  one  of  Madame  de  Montespan's  children 
died,  the  King  was  deeply  affected ;  but  he  was  not  so 
at  the  death  of  the  poor  Count  de  Vermandois  (the 
son  of  La  ValHere).  He  could  not  bear  him,  because 
Montespan  and  that  old  Maintenon  had  made  him 
believe  the  youth  was  not  his  but  the  Duke  de  Lauzun's 
child.  It  had  been  well  if  all  the  King's  reputed 
children  had  been  as  surely  his  as  this  was.  Madame 
de  la  Valliere  was  no  light  mistress,  as  her  unwavering 
penitence  sufficiently  proved.  She  was  an  amiable, 
gentle,  kind,  and  tender  woman.  Ambition  formed  no 
part  of  her  love  for  the  King ;  she  had  a  real  passion  for 
him,  and  never  loved  any  other  person.  It  was  at 
Montespan's  instigation  that  the  King  behaved  so  ill  to 
her.  The  poor  creature's  heart  was  broken,  but  she 
imagined  that  she  could  not  make  a  sacrifice  more 
agreeable  to  God  than  that  which  had  been  the  cause 
of  her  errors;  and  thought  that  her  repentance  ought 
to  proceed  from  the  same  source  as  her  crime.  She 
therefore  remained,  by  way  of  self-mortification,  with 
Montespan,  who  having  a  great  portion  of  wit  did  not 
scruple  to  ridicule  her  publicly,  behaved  extremely  ill 
to  her,  and  obliged  the  King  to  do  the  same. 

He  used  to  pass  through  La  Valliere's  chamber  to 
go   to   Montespan's  :    and    one   day,    at   the   instigation 


MADAME    DE    LA    VALLlfeRE  79 

of  the  latter,  he  threw  a  Httle  spaniel,  which  he  had 
called  Malice,  at  the  Duchess  de  la  Valliere,  saying : — 
"  There,  Madam,  is  your  companion  ;  that's  all." 
This  was  the  more  cruel,  as  he  was  then  going  direct 
to  Montespan's  chamber.  And  yet  La  Valliere  bore  every- 
thing patiently ;  she  was  as  virtuous  as  Montespan  was 
vicious.  Her  connection  with  the  King  might  be 
pardoned,  when  it  is  remembered  that  everybody  had 
not  only  advised  her  to  it,  but  had  even  assisted  to  bring 
it  about.  The  King  was  young,  handsome  and  gallant ; 
she  was,  besides,  very  young  :  she  was  naturally  modest, 
and  had  a  very  good  heart.  She  was  very  much  grieved 
when  she  was  made  a  Duchess,  and  her  children  legiti- 
mated ;  before  that  she  thought  no  one  knew  she  had 
had  children.  There  was  an  inexpressible  charm  in  her 
countenance,  her  figure  was  elegant,  her  eyes  were 
always  in  my  opinion  much  finer  than  Montespan's, 
and  her  whole  deportment  was  unassuming.  She  was 
slightly  lame,  but  not  so  much  as  to  impair  her 
appearance. 

When  I  first  arrived  in  France  she  had  not  retired 
to  the  convent,  but  was  still  in  the  Court.  We  became 
and  continued  very  intimate  until  she  took  the  veil. 
I  was  deeply  affected  when  this  charming  person  took 
that  resolution  ;  and  at  the  moment  when  the  funereal 
pall  was  thrown  over  her,  I  shed  so  many  tears  that  I 
could  see  no  more.  She  visited  me  after  the  ceremony, 
and  told  me  that  I  should  rather  congratulate  than  weep 
for  her,  for  that  from  that  moment  her  happiness  was  to 
begin  :  she  added  that  she  should  never  forget  the 
kindness  and  friendship  I  had  displayed  towards  her, 
and  which  was  so  much  more  than  she  deserved.   A  short 


8o  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

time  afterwards  I  went  to  see  her.  I  was  curious  to  know 
why  she  had  remained  so  long  in  the  character  of  an 
attendant  to  Montespan.  She  told  me  that  God  had 
touched  her  heart,  and  made  her  sensible  of  her  crimes  ; 
that  she  felt  she  ought  to  perform  a  penitence,  and  suffer 
that  which  would  be  most  painful  to  her,  which  was  to 
love  the  King,  and  to  be  despised  by  him ;  that  for  the 
three  years  after  the  King  had  ceased  to  love  her  she 
had  suffered  the  torments  of  the  damned,  and  that  she 
offered  her  sorrows  to  Heaven  as  the  expiation  of  her 
sins ;  and  as  her  sins  had  been  public,  so  should  be  her 
repentance.  She  said  she  knew  very  well  that  she  had 
been  taken  for  a  fool,  who  was  not  sensible  of  anything ; 
but  that  at  the  very  period  she  alluded  to  she  sufTered 
most,  and  continued  to  do  so  until  God  inspired  her  with 
the  resolution  to  abandon  everything,  and  to  serve  Him 
alone,  which  she  had  since  put  into  execution  ;  but  that 
now  she  considered  herself  unworthy,  on  account  of  her 
past  Hfe,  to  live  in  the  society  of  persons  as  pure  and 
pious  as  the  Carmelite  Sisters.  All  this  evidently  came 
from  the  heart. 

From  the  time  she  became  professed,  she  was  entirely 
devoted  to  heaven.  I  often  told  her  that  she  had  only 
transposed  her  love,  and  had  given  to  God  that  which 
had  formerly  been  the  King's  She  has  said  frequently 
that  if  the  King  should  come  into  the  convent,  she 
would  refuse  to  see  him,  and  would  hide  herself  so  that 
he  could  not  find  her.  She  was,  however,  spared  this 
pain,  for  the  King  not  only  never  went,  but  seemed  to 
have  forgotten  her,  as  if  he  had  never  known  her. 

To  accuse  La  Valliere  of  loving  anyone  besides  the 
King  was  wicked  to  the  last  degree,  but  falsehoods  cost 


MADAME    DE    LA   VALLlfeRE  8l 

Montespan  little.  The  Count  de  Vermandois  was  a  good 
sort  of  young  man,  and  loved  me  as  if  I  had  been  his 
mother.  When  his  irregularities  were  first  discovered,^ 
I  was  very  angry  with  him  ;  and  I  had  caused  him  to  be 
told  very  seriously  that  if  he  had  behaved  ill  I  should 
cease  to  have  any  regard  for  him.  This  grieved  him  to 
the  heart ;  he  sent  to  me  daily,  and  begged  permission 
to  say  only  a  few  words  to  me.  I  was  firm  during  four 
weeks ;  at  length  I  permitted  him  to  come,  when  he 
threw  himself  at  my  feet,  begged  my  pardon,  promising 
to  amend  his  conduct,  and  beseeching  me  to  restore  him 
my  friendship  (without  which  he  said  he  could  not  exist), 
and  to  assist  him  again  with  my  advice.  He  told  me  the 
whole  history  of  his  follies,  and  convinced  me  that  he 
had  been  most  grossly  deluded. 

When  the  Dauphine  lay  in  of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy, 
I  said  to  the  King,  "  I  hope  your  Majesty  will  not  upon 
this  occasion  refuse  a  humble  request  I  have  to  make  to 
you." 

He  smiled  and  said,  "  What  have  you  to  ask,  then  ?  " 

I  replied,  "  The  pardon.  Monsieur,  of  the  poor  Count 
de  Vermandois." 

He  smiled  once  more,  and  said,  "  You  are  a  very 
good  friend;  but  as  for  M.  Vermandois,  he  has  not 
been  sufficiently  punished  for  his  crimes." 

"  The  poor  lad,"  I  rejoined,  "is  so  very  penitent  for 
his  offence." 

The  King  replied,  "  I  do  not  yet  feel  myself  incHned 
to  see  him ;  I  am  too  angry  with  him  still." 

Several  months  elapsed  before  the  King  would  see 

I  A  more  particular  account  of  these  will  be  found  hereafter. 

6 


82  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

him  ;  but  the  young  man  was  very  grateful  to  me  for 
having  spoken  in  his  behalf;  and  my  own  children  could 
not  be  more  attached  to  me  than  he  was.  He  was  well 
made,  but  his  appearance,  though  not  disagreeable,  was 
not  remarkably  good  ;  he  squinted  a  httle. 


SECT.  V. 

MADAME    DE    MONTESPAN.* 

The  King  at  first  could  not  bear  Madame  de 
Montespan,  and  blamed  Monsieur  and  even  the  Queen 
for  associating  with  her  ;  yet  eventually  he  fell  deeply  in 
love  with  her  himself. 

She  was  more  of  an  ambitious  than  a  libertine 
woman,  but  as  wicked  as  the  devil  himself;  nothing 
could  stand  between  her  and  the  gratification  of  her 
ambition,  to  which  she  would  have  made  any  sacrifice. 
Her  figure  was  ugly  and  clumsy,  but  her  eyes  bespoke 
great  intelligence,  though  they  were  somewhat  too 
bright ;  her  mouth  was  very  pretty  and  her  smile  un 
commonly  agreeable.  Her  complexion  was  fairer  than 
La  Valliere's,  her  look  was  more  bold,  and  her  general 
appearance  denoted  her  intriguing  temper.  She  had 
very  beautiful  light  hair,  fine  arms,  and  pretty  hands, 
which  La  Valliere  had  not ;  but  the  latter  was  always 
very  neat,  and  Montespan  was  filthy  to  the  last  degree. 
She  was  very  amusing  in  conversation,  and  it  was 
impossible  to  be  tired  in  talking  with  her. 

The  King  did  not  regret  Montespan  more  than  he 
did  La  Fontange.  The  Duke  d' Antin,  her  only  legiti- 
mate child,  was  also  the  only  one  who  wept  at  her  death. 

I  Daughter  of  Gabriel  de  Roche  Chouart,  first  Duke  de 
Mortemart. 

6—2 


84  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

When  the  King  had  the  others  legitimated,  the  mother's 
name  was  not  mentioned :  so  that  it  might  appear 
Madame  de  Montespan  was  not  their  mother.^ 

She  was  once  present  at  a  review,  and  as  she  passed 
before  the  German  soldiers  they  called  out : — Kanig's 
Hiire !  Hiire  !  When  the  King  asked  her  in  the  evening 
how  she  liked  the  review,  she  said : — "  Very  well,  but 
only  those  German  soldiers  are  so  simple  as  not  to  call 
things  by  their  proper  names,  for  I  had  their  shouts 
explained  to  me." 

Madame  de  Montespan  and  her  eldest  daughter  could 
drink  a  large  quantity  of  wine  without  being  affected  by 
it.  I  have  seen  them  drink  six  bumpers  of  the  strong 
Turin  Rosa  Solis,  besides  the  wine  which  they  had 
taken  before.  I  expected  to  see  them  fall  under  the 
table,  but  on  the  contrary,  it  affected  them  no  more  than 
a  draught  of  water. 

It  was  Madame  de  Montespan  who  invented  the 
robes  hattantes  for  the  purpose  of  concealing  her  preg- 
nancy, because  it  was  impossible  to  discover  the  shape 
in  those  robes.  But  when  she  wore  them  it  was  pre- 
cisely as  if  she  had  publicly  announced  that  which  she 
affected  to  conceal,  for  everybody  at  Court  used  to  say, 
"  Madame  de  Montespan  has  put  on  her  rohe  hattante, 
therefore  she  must  be  pregnant."  I  believe  she  did  it  on 
purpose,  hoping  that  it  commanded  more  attention  for 
her  at  Court,  as  it  really  did. 

I  Madame  de  Montespan  had  eight  children  by  Louis  XIV. : 
the  Duke  of  Maine ;  Count  Vexin ;  Mademoiselle  de  Nantes, 
married  to  the  Duke  of  Bourbon  ;  Mademoiselle  de  Tours,  married 
to  the  Regent  Duke  of  Orleans ;  the  Count  of  Toulouse,  and  two 
other  sons  who  died  young. 


MADAME    DE    MONTESPAN  85 

It  is  quite  true  that  she  always  had  a  Royal  body- 
guard, and  it  was  fit  that  she  should,  because  the  King 
was  always  in  her  apartments  by  day  and  by  night ; 
he  transacted  business  there  with  His  Ministers  ;  but  as 
there  were  several  chambers  the  lady  was,  nevertheless, 
quite  at  liberty  to  do  as  she  pleased,  and  the  Marshal 
de  Noailles,  though  a  devout  person,  was  still  a  man. 
When  she  went  out  in  a  carriage  she  had  guards  lest 
her  husband  should,  as  he  had  threatened,  offer  her 
some  insult. 

She  caused  the  Queen  great  vexation,  and  it  is  quite 
true  that  she  used  to  ridicule  her ;  but  then  she  did 
the  same  to  everybody  besides.  She,  however,  never 
ventured  upon  any  direct  or  remarkable  impertinence  to 
Her  Majesty,  for  the  King  would  not  have  suffered  it. 

She  had  married  one  of  her  cousins,  M.  de  Mont- 
pipeau,  to  Mademoiselle  Aubry,  the  daughter  of  a 
private  citizen  who  was  exceedingly  rich.  To  convince 
her  that  she  had  made  a  good  match,  Madame  de 
Montespan  had  her  brought  into  her  own  small  private 
room.  The  young  lady  was  not  accustomed  to  very 
refined  society,  and  the  first  time  she  went  she  seated 
herself  upon  the  table,  and  crossing  her  legs,  sat  swinging 
there  as  if  she  had  been  in  her  own  chamber.  The  laugh 
which  this  excited  cannot  be  conceived,  nor  the  comical 
manner  in  which  Madame  de  Montespan  turned  it  to 
the  King's  amusement.  The  young  lady  thought  that 
her  new  relation  was  inclined  to  be  favourable  to  her 
and  loaded  her  with  compliments.  In  general,  INIontespan 
had  the  skill  of  representing  things  so  humorously  that 
it  was  impossible  not  to  laugh  at  her. 

According  to  the  law  of  the  land,  all  her  children 


86  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

were  supposed  to  be  Monsieur  de  Montespan's.  When 
her  husband  was  dangerously  ill,  Madame  de  Montespan, 
who  in  some  degree  affected  devotion,  sent  to  ask  him  if 
he  would  allow  her  to  nurse  him  in  his  sickness.  He 
replied  that  he  would  very  willingly,  provided  she  would 
bring  all  his  children  home  with  her ;  but  if  she  left  one 
behind  he  would  not  receive  her.  After  this  answer, 
she  took  care  not  to  go,  for  her  husband  was  a  great 
brute,  and  would  have  said  whatever  he  pleased  as  soon 
as  she  presented  herself  to  him. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Count  de  Toulouse,  all 
the  children  she  had  by  the  King  are  marked.  The 
Duke  du  Maine  is  paralytic,  Madame  d'Orleans  is 
crooked,  and  Madame  La  Duchesse  is  lame. 

M.  de  Montespan  was  not  a  very  estimable  person ; 
he  did  nothing  but  play.  He  was  a  very  sordid  man, 
and  I  believe  if  the  King  had  chosen  to  give  him  a  good 
round  sum  he  would  have  been  very  quiet.  It  was 
amusing  enough  to  see  him  and  his  son  d' Antin  playing 
with  Madame  D'Orleans  and  Madame  La  Duchesse,  and 
presenting  the  cards  very  politely,  and  kissing  his  hand 
to  the  Princesses,  who  were  called  his  own  daughters. 
He  thought  it  a  joke  himself,  and  always  turned  aside  a 
little  to  laugh  in  his  sleeve. 


SECT.  VI. 


MADAME    DE    MAINTENON. 


The  marriage  of  Louis  XIV,  with  old  Maintenon 
proves  how  impossible  it  is  to  escape  one's  fate.  The 
King  said  one  day  to  the  Duke  de  Crequi  and  to 
M.  de  la  Rochefoucauld,  long  before  he  knew  Mistress 
Scarron,  "  I  am  convinced  that  astrology  is  false.  I  had 
my  nativity  cast  in  Italy,  and  I  was  told  that,  after 
living  to  an  advanced  age,  I  should  be  in  love  with  an 

old to  the  last  moment  of  my  existence.     I  do  not 

think  there  is  any  great  likelihood  of  that."  He  laughed 
most  heartily  as  he  said  this :  and  yet  the  thing  has 
taken  place. 

The  history  of  Theodora,  in  Procopius,  bears  a 
singular  resemblance  to  that  of  Maintenon.  In  the 
history  of  Sweden,  too,  there  is  a  similar  character  in 
the  person  of  Sigbritta,  a  Dutch  woman,  who  lived  during 
the  reign  of  Christian  II.,  King  of  Denmark,  Sweden 
and  Norway,  who  bears  so  great  a  likeness  to  Maintenon 
that  I  was  struck  with  it  as  soon  as  I  read  it.  I  cannot 
imagine  how  they  came  to  permit  its  publication.  It  is 
fortunate  for  the  Abbe  Vertot,  who  is  the  author,  that 
the  King  does  not  love  reading,  otherwise  he  would 
certainly  have  been  sent  to  the  Bastille.^    Several  persons 

I  See  "  Les  Revolutions  de  Suede,"  by  the  Abbe  Vertot,  in  the 
year  1520.     The  resemblance  is  indeed  very  remarkable. 


88  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

thought  that  the  Abbe  had  invented  it  by  way  of  a  joke  : 
but  he  swears  by  all  that  is  good  that  he  found  it  in  the 
annals  of  Sweden.  The  old  woman  cannot  have  read  it 
either,  for  she  is  too  much  occupied  in  reading  the  letters 
written  to  her  from  Paris,  relating  all  that  is  going  on 
there  and  at  the  Court.  Sometimes  the  packets  have 
consisted  of  twenty  or  thirty  sheets ;  she  kept  them  or 
showed  them  to  the  King,  according  as  she  liked  or 
disliked  the  persons. 

She  was  not  deficient  in  wit,  and  could  talk  very 
well  whenever  she  chose.  She  did  not  like  to  be  called 
La  Marquise,  but  preferred  the  simpler  and  shorter  title 
of  Madame  de  Maintenon. 

She  did  not  scruple  to  display  openly  the  hatred  she 
had  for  me.  For  example,  when  the  Queen  of  England 
came  to  Marly,  and  went  out  on  foot  or  in  the  carriage 
with  the  King,  on  their  return  the  Queen,  the  Dauphine, 
the  Princess  of  England,  and  all  the  Princesses,  went  into 
the  King's  room  :  I  alone  was  excluded. 

It  was  with  great  regret  that  I  gave  up  my  maids  of 
honour.  I  had  four,  sometimes  five  of  them,  with  their 
governess  and  sub-governess ;  they  amused  me  very 
much,  for  they  were  all  very  gay.  The  old  woman 
feared  there  mighi  be  some  among  them  to  whom  the 
King  might  take  a  fancy,  as  he  had  done  to  Ludre  and 
Fontange.  I  only  kept  my  maids  of  honour  a  year  after 
the  death  of  Monsieur.^  The  King  was  always  fond  of 
the  sex,  and  if  the  old  woman  had  not  watched  him  very 
narrowly  he  would  have  slipped  through  her  fingers  in 
spite  of  all  his  devotion. 

I  In  1702. 


MADAME    DE    MAINTENON  89 

She  hated  the  Dauphine  because  the  latter  would 
not  let  her  treat  her  like  a  child,  but  wished  to  keep  a 
Court  and  live  as  became  her  rank.  This  the  old  woman 
could  not  and  would  not  endure.  She  loved  to  set 
all  things  in  confusion,  as  she  did  afterwards  with  the 
second  Dauphine,  in  the  hope  of  compelling  the  King  to 
recognize  and  proclaim  her  as  Queen  ;  but  this  the  King 
never  would  do,  notwithstanding  all  her  artifices. 

Nobody  at  Court  used  perfumery  except  that  old 
woman  ;  her  gloves  were  always  scented  with  jessamine. 
The  King  could  not  bear  scents  on  any  other  person,  and 
only  endured  it  in  her  because  she  made  him  believe  that 
it  was  somebody  else  who  was  perfumed. 

If  Madame  des  Ursins  had  not  been  protected  by 
Madame  de  Maintenon,  she  would  have  been  ruined  at 
Court  long  before  the  Queen  of  Spain  dismissed  her,  for 
in  his  heart  the  King  dishked  her  excessively ;  but  all 
those  who  were  supported  by  Madame  de  Maintenon 
were  sure  to  triumph. 

The  old  woman  took  great  pains  to  conceal  from  the 
King  all  that  could  give  him  pain ;  but  she  did  not 
scruple  to  torment  him  incessantly  about  the  Constitu- 
tion and  those  illegitimate  children,  whom  she  wished  to 
raise  higher  than  the  King  desired.  She  teased  him  also 
with  her  hatred  of  my  son  and  myself,  for  he  had  no 
dislike  to  us. 

Neither  the  Queen  nor  the  first  Dauphine  nor  my- 
self ever  received  a  farthing  ;  but  this  old  Maintenon 
took  money  on  all  sides,  and  taught  the  second  Dauphine 
to  do  the  same.  Her  example  was  followed  by  all  the 
others. 

In  the  time  of  the  Queen  and  the  first  Dauphine, 


90  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

everything  at  Court  was  conducted  with  modesty  and 
dignity.  Those  persons  who  indulged  in  secret  debauch- 
eries at  least  kept  up  a  respect  for  appearances  ;  but 
from  the  time  that  Maintenon's  reign  began,  and  the 
King's  illegitimate  children  were  made  a  part  of  the 
Royal  Family,  all  was  turned  topsy-turvy. 

When  she  once  conceived  a  hatred  against  any 
person  it  was  for  life,  and  she  never  ceased  secretly  to 
persecute  them,  as  I  have  personally  experienced.  She 
has  laid  many  snares  for  me,  which  by  the  help  of 
Providence  I  have  always  avoided.  She  was  terribly 
annoyed  by  her  first  husband,^  who  kept  her  always  shut 
up  in  his  chamber.  Many  people  say,  too,  that  she 
hastened  the  passage  of  poor  Mansart  ^  into  the  other 
world.  It  is  quite  certain  that  he  was  poisoned  by  means 
of  green  peas,  and  that  he  died  within  three  hours  of 
eating  them.  She  had  learnt  that  on  the  same  day 
M.  de  Torcy'  was  going  to  show  the  King  certain  papers 
containing  an  account  of  the  money  which  she  had 
received  from  the  post  unknown  to  His  Majesty.  The 
King  never  knew  anything  of  this  adventure  nor  of  that 
of  Louvois,  because  as  people  had  no  fancy  for  being 
poisoned  they  held  their  tongues. 

Before  she  got  into  power,  the  Church  of  France 
was  very  reasonable ;  but  she  spoiled  everything  by 
encouraging  such  follies  and  superstitions  as  the  rosaries 
and  other  things.     When  any  reasonable  men  appeared, 

1  Paul  Scarron,  the  son  of  a  Conseiller  au  Parlement,  and 
author  of  the  Roman  Comique  :  he  died  in  1660. 

2  It  is  not  known  what  Mansart  is  meant  here :  it  cannot  be  the 
famous  architect,  who  died  in  1708. 

3  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  and  Intendant  des  Postes. 


MADAME    DE    MAINTENON  gi 

the  old  woman  and  the  Confessor  had  them  banished 
or  imprisoned.  These  two  persons  were  the  causes  of 
all  the  persecutions  which  the  Lutherans  and  those  of 
the  reformed  religion  underwent  in  France.  Pere  La 
Chaise,  with  his  long  ears,  began  this  worthy  enterprise, 
and  Pere  Le  Tellier  completed  it ;  France  was  thus 
ruined  in  every  way. 

The  Duchess  de  Bourbon  was  taught  by  her  mother 
and  her  aunt,  Mesdames  de  Montespan  and  De  Thiange, 
to  ridicule  everybody,  under  the  pretext  of  diverting  the 
King.  The  children,  who  were  always  present,  learnt 
nothing  else ;  and  this  practice  was  the  universal  dread 
of  all  persons  in  the  Court ;  but  not  more  so  than  that  of 
the  gouvernante  of  the  children  (Madame  de  Maintenon). 
Her  habit  was  to  treat  things  very  seriously,  and  without 
the  least  appearance  of  jesting.  She  used  to  speak  ill  of 
persons  to  the  King  through  charity  and  piety,  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  correcting  the  faults  of  her  neighbours ; 
and  under  this  pretext  she  filled  the  King  with  a  bad 
opinion  of  the  whole  Court,  solely  that  he  might  have 
no  desire  for  any  other  company  than  that  of  herself  and 
her  creatures,  who  were  alone  perfect  and  without  the 
slightest  defect.  What  rendered  her  disclosures  the 
more  dangerous  was  that  they  were  frequently  followed 
by  banishment,  by  lettres-de-cachet,  and  by  imprisonment. 
While  Montespan  was  in  power,  at  least  there  was 
nothing  of  this  sort.  Provided  she  could  amuse  herself 
at  the  expense  of  all  around  her,  she  was  content. 

I    have    often   heard    Madame   de    Maintenon   say, 
jestingly,   "I  have  always  been  either  too  far  from,  or 
too  near  to,  greatness,  to  know  exactly  what  it  is." 
She   could   not    forgive    the    King   for   not   having 


92  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

proclaimed  her  Queen.  She  put  on  such  an  appearance 
of  humüity  and  piety  to  the  Queen  of  England  that  she 
passed  for  a  saint  with  her.  The  old  woman  knew  very 
well  that  I  was  a  right  German,  and  that  I  never  could 
endure  unequal  alliances.  She  fancied,  therefore,  that  it 
was  on  my  account  the  King  was  reluctant  to  acknow- 
ledge his  marriage  with  her,  and  this  it  was  that  made 
her  hate  me  so  profoundly.  From  the  time  of  the  King's 
death  and  our  departure  from  Versailles  my  son  has  never 
once  seen  her. 

She  would  never  allow  me  to  meddle  with  anything, 
because  she  feared  that  it  would  give  me  an  opportunity 
of  talking  to  the  King.  It  was  not  that  she  was  jealous 
lest  he  should  be  fond  of  me,  but  she  feared  that  in 
speaking  according  to  my  usual  custom,  freely  and 
without  restraint,  I  should  open  the  King's  eyes  and 
point  out  to  him  the  folly  of  the  life  he  was  leading. 
I  had,  however,  no  such  intention. 

All  the  mistresses  the  King  had,  did  not  tarnish  his 
reputation  so  much  as  the  old  woman  he  married  ;  from 
her  proceeded  all  the  calamities  which  have  since  befallen 
France.  It  was  she  who  excited  the  persecution  against 
the  Protestants,  invented  the  heavy  taxes  which  raised 
the  price  of  grain  so  high,  and  caused  the  scarcity.  She 
helped  the  ministers  to  rob  the  King ;  by  means  of  the 
Constitution  she  hastened  his  death ;  she  brought  about 
my  son's  marriage  ;  she  wanted  to  place  bastards  upon 
the  throne  ;  in  short,  she  ruined  and  confused  everything. 

Formerly  the  Court  never  went  into  mourning  for 
children  younger  than  six  years  of  age ;  but  the  Duke 
du  Maine  having  lost  a  daughter  only  one  year  old,  the 
old  woman  persuaded  the  King  to  order  a  mourning,  and 


MADAME    DE    MAINTENON  93 

since  that  time  it  has  been  always  worn  for  children  of  a 
year  old. 

The  King  always  hated  or  loved  as  she  chose  to 
direct ;  it  was  not,  therefore,  surprising  that  he  could  not 
bear  Montespan,  for  all  her  failings  were  displayed  to 
him  by  the  old  woman,  who  was  materially  assisted  in 
this  office  by  Montespan's  eldest  son,  the  Duke  du  Maine. 
In  her  latter  years  she  enjoyed  a  splendour  which  she 
could  never  have  dreamed  of  before  ;  the  Court  looked 
upon  her  as  a  sort  of  divinity. 

The  old  lady  never  failed  to  manifest  her  hatred  of 
my  son  on  all  occasions.  She  liked  my  husband  no 
better  than  myself;  and  my  son  and  my  daughter  and 
her  husband  were  equally  objects  of  her  detestation.  She 
told  a  lady  once  that  her  greatest  fault  was  that  of  being 
attached  to  me.  Neither  my  son  nor  I  had  ever  done 
her  any  injury.  If  Monsieur  thought  fit  to  tell  his  niece, 
the  Duchess  of  Burgundy,  a  part  of  Maintenon's  history, 
in  the  vexation  he  felt  at  her  having  estranged  the 
Princess  from  him,  and  not  choosing  that  she  should 
behave  affectionately  to  her  great-uncle,  that  was  not  our 
fault.  She  was  as  jealous  of  the  Dauphine  as  a  lover  is 
of  his  mistress. 

She  w^as  in  the  habit  of  saying,  "  I  perceive  there  is 
a  sort  of  vertigo  at  present  affecting  the  whole  world." 

When  she  perceived  that  the  harvest  had  failed,  she 
bought  up  all  the  corn  she  could  get  in  the  markets,  and 
gained  by  this  means  an  enormous  sum  of  money,  while 
the  poor  people  were  dying  of  famine.  Not  having  a 
sufficient  number  of  granaries,  a  large  quantity  of  this 
corn  became  rotten  in  the  boats  loaded  with  it,  and  it 
was  necessary  to  throw  it  into  the  river.  The  people 
said  this  was  a  just  judgment  from  Heaven. 


94  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

My  son  made  me  laugh  the  other  day.  I  asked  him 
how  Madame  de  Maintenon  was, 

"Wonderfully  well,"  he  replied. 

"That  is  surprising  at  her  age,"  I  said. 

"Yes,"  he  rejoined,  "but  do  you  not  know  that  God 
has,  by  way  of  punishing  the  devil,  doomed  him  to  exist 
a  certain  number  of  years  in  that  ugly  body  ? " 

Montespan  was  the  cause  of  the  King's  love  for  old 
Maintenon.  In  the  first  place,  when  she  wished  to  have 
her  near  her  children,  she  shut  her  ears  to  the  stories 
which  were  told  of  the  irregular  life  which  the  hussy 
had  been  leading  ;  she  made  everybody  who  spoke  to 
the  King  about  her,  praise  her ;  her  virtue  and  piety 
were  cried  up  until  the  King  was  made  to  think  that  all 
he  had  heard  of  her  light  conduct  were  lies,  and  in  the 
end  he  most  firmly  believed  it.  In  the  second  place, 
Montespan  was  a  creature  full  of  caprice,  who  had  no 
control  over  herself,  was  passionately  fond  of  amusement, 
was  tired  whenever  she  was  alone  with  the  King,  whom 
she  loved  only  for  the  purposes  of  her  own  interest  or 
ambition,  caring  very  little  for  him  personally.  To 
occupy  him,  and  to  prevent  him  from  observing  her 
fondness  for  play  and  dissipation,  she  brought  Maintenon. 
The  King  was  fond  of  a  retired  life,  and  would  willingly 
have  passed  his  time  alone  with  Montespan  ;  he  often 
reproached  her  with  not  loving  him  sufficiently,  and  they 
quarrelled  a  great  deal  occasionally.  Goody  Scarron 
then  appeared,  restored  peace  between  them,  and  con- 
soled the  King.  She,  however,  made  him  remark  more 
and  more  the  bitter  temper  of  Montespan  ;  and  affecting 
great  devotion  she  told  the  King  that  his  affliction  was 
sent  him  by  Heaven,  as  a  punishment  for  the  sins  he  had 


MADAME    DE    MAINTENON  95 

committed  with  Montespan.  She  was  eloquent,  and  had 
very  fine  eyes  ;  by  degrees  the  King  became  accustomed 
to  her,  and  thought  she  would  effect  his  salvation.  He 
then  made  a  proposal  to  her :  but  she  remained  firm,  and 
gave  him  to  understand,  that  although  he  was  very 
agreeable  to  her,  she  would  not  for  the  whole  world 
offend  Heaven.  This  excited  in  the  King  so  great  an 
admiration  for  her,  and  such  a  disgust  to  Madame  de 
Montespan,  that  he  began  to  think  of  being  converted. 
The  old  woman  then  employed  her  creature,  the  Duke 
du  Maine,  to  insinuate  to  his  mother,  that  since  the  King 
had  taken  other  mistresses,  for  example,  Lvidres  and 
Fontange,  she  had  lost  her  authority,  and  would  become 
an  object  of  contempt  at  Court.  This  irritated  her,  and 
she  was  in  a  very  bad  humour  when  the  King  came. 
In  the  meantime,  Maintenon  was  incessantly  censuring 
the  King ;  she  told  him  that  he  would  be  damned  if  he 
did  not  live  on  better  terms  with  the  Queen.  Louis  XIV. 
repeated  this  to  his  wife,  who  considered  herself  much 
obliged  to  Madame  de  Maintenon :  she  treated  her  with 
marks  of  distinction,  and  consented  to  her  being 
appointed  second  dame  d'atour  to  the  Dauphine  of 
Bavaria  ;  so  that  she  had  now  nothing  to  do  with 
Montespan.  The  latter  became  furious,  and  related  to 
the  King  all  the  particulars  of  the  life  of  Dame  Scarron. 
But  the  King,  knowing  her  to  be  an  arrant  fiend,  who 
would  spare  no  one  in  her  passion,  would  not  believe 
anything  she  said  to  him.  The  Duke  du  Maine  per- 
suaded his  mother  to  retire  from  Court  for  a  short  time 
in  order  that  the  King  might  recall  her.  Being  fond  of 
her  son,  and  believing  him  to  be  honest  in  the  advice  he 
gave  her,  she  went  to  Paris,  and  wrote  to  the  King  that 


96  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

she  would  never  come  back.  The  Duke  du  Maine 
immediately  sent  off  all  her  packages  after  her  without 
her  knowledge  ;  he  even  had  her  furniture  thrown  out 
of  the  window,  so  that  she  could  not  come  back  to 
Versailles.  She  had  treated  the  King  so  ill  and  so 
unkindly  that  he  was  delighted  at  being  rid  of  her,  and 
he  did  not  care  by  what  means.  If  she  had  remained 
longer,  the  King,  teased  as  he  was,  would  hardly  have 
been  secure  against  the  transports  of  her  passion.  The 
Queen  was  extremely  grateful  to  Maintenon  for  having 
been  the  means  of  driving  away  Montespan  and  bringing 
back  the  King  to  the  marriage-bed ;  an  arrangement  to 
which,  like  an  honest  Spanish  lady,  she  had  no  sort  of 
objection.  With  that  goodness  of  heart  which  was  so 
remarkable  in  her,  she  thought  she  was  bound  to  do 
something  for  Madame  de  Maintenon,  and  therefore 
consented  to  her  being  appointed  dame  d'atour.  It  was 
not  until  shortly  before  her  death  that  she  learnt  she 
had  been  deceived  by  her.  After  the  Queen's  death, 
Louis  XIV.  thought  he  had  gained  a  triumph  over  the 
very  personification  of  virtue  in  overcoming  the  old 
lady's  scruples ;  he  used  to  visit  her  every  afternoon, 
and  she  gained  such  an  influence  over  him  as  to  induce 
him  to  marry. 

Madame  la  Marechale  de  Schomberg^  had  a  niece. 
Mademoiselle  d'Aumale,  whom  her  parents  had  placed 
at  St.  Cyr  during  the  King's  life.  She  was  ugly,  but 
possessed  great  wit ;  and  succeeded  in  amusing  the  King 
so  well  that  the  old  Maintenon  became  disturbed  at  it. 
She  picked  a  quarrel  with  her,  and  wanted  to  send  her 

I  Susanne  d'Aumale  Harcourt,  wife  of  Frederic  Armand  de 
Schomberg,  Marshal  of  France. 


MADAME    DE    MAINTENON  97 

again  to  the  convent ;  but  the  King  opposed  this,  and 
made  the  old  lady  bring  her  back.  When  the  King 
died,  Mademoiselle  d'Aumale  would  not  stay  any  longer 
with  Madame  de  Maintenon. 

When  the  Dauphine  first  arrived,  she  did  not  know 
a  soul ;  her  household  was  formed  before  she  came  :  she 
did  not  know  who  Maintenon  was  ;  and  when  Monsieur 
explained  it  to  her  a  year  or  two  afterwards,  it  was  too 
late  to  resist.  The  Dauphin  used  at  first  to  laugh  at 
the  old  woman ;  but  as  he  was  amorous  of  one  of  the 
Dauphine's  maids  of  honour,  and  consequently  was 
acquainted  with  the  gouvernante  of  the  maids  of  honour, 
IN'Iontchevreuil,  a  creature  of  Maintenon's,  that  old  fool 
set  her  out  in  very  fair  colours.  Madame  de  Maintenon 
did  not  scruple  to  estrange  the  Dauphin  from  the 
Dauphine,  and  very  piously  to  sell  him  first  Rambure 
and  afterwards  La  Force. 

i8th  April,  1719. — To-day  I  will  begin  my  letter 
with  the  story  of  Madame  de  Ponikau,  in  Saxony.  One 
day  during  her  lying-in,  as  she  was  quite  alone,  a  little 
woman  dressed  in  the  ancient  French  fashion  came  into 
the  room,  and  begged  her  to  permit  a  party  to  celebrate 
a  wedding,  promising  that  they  would  take  care  it  should 
be  when  she  was  alone.  Madame  de  Ponikau  having 
consented,  one  day  a  company  of  dwarfs  of  both  sexes 
entered  her  chamber ;  they  brought  with  them  a  little 
table,  upon  which  a  good  dinner,  consisting  of  a  great 
number  of  dishes,  was  placed,  and  round  which  all  the 
wedding  guests  took  their  seats.  In  the  midst  of  the 
banquet,  one  of  the  little  waiting-maids  ran  in,  crying, — 

"  Thank  Heaven,  we  have  escaped  a  great  perplexity: 

the  old is  dead." 

7 


gS  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

It  is  the  same  here,  the  old is  dead  ;  she  quitted 

this  world  at  St.  Cyr,  on  Saturday  last,  the  15th  of  April, 
between  four  and  five  o'clock  in  the  evening.  The  news 
of  the  Duke  du  Maine  and  his  wife  being  arrested  made 
her  faint,  and  was  probably  the  cause  of  her  death,  for 
from  that  time  she  had  not  a  moment's  repose  or  con- 
tent. Her  rage,  and  the  annihilation  of  her  hopes  of 
reigning  with  him,  turned  her  blood:  she  fell  sick  of  the 
measles,  and  was  for  twenty  days  in  a  great  fever  ;  the 
disorder  then  took  an  unfavourable  turn,  and  she  died. 
She  had  concealed  two  years  of  her  age,  for  she  pre- 
tended to  be  only  eighty-four,  while  she  was  really  eighty- 
six  years  old.  I  believe  that  what  grieved  her  most  in  dying 
was  to  quit  the  world,  and  leave  me  and  my  son  behind 
her  in  good  health.  When  her  approaching  death  was 
announced  to  her,  she  said,  "  To  die  is  the  least  event 
of  my  life."  The  sums  which  her  nephew  and  niece 
De  Noailles  inherited  from  her  were  immense :  but  the 
amount  cannot  be  ascertained,  because  she  had  con- 
cealed a  large  part  of  her  wealth. 

A  cousin  of  her's,  the  Archbishop  of  Rouen,  who 
created  so  much  trouble  with  respect  to  the  Constitution, 
followed  his  dear  cousin  into  the  other  world  exactly  a 
week  afterwards,  on  the  same  day  and  at  the  same  hour. 

Nobody  knows  what  the  King  said  to  Maintenon  on 
his  death-bed.  She  had  retired  to  St.  Cyr  before  he  died; 
they  fetched  her  back,  but  she  did  not  stay  to  the  end. 
I  think  the  King  repented  of  his  folly  in  having  married 
her;  and  indeed,  notwithstanding  all  her  contrivances, 
she  could  not  persuade  him  to  declare  their  marriage. 
She  wept  for  the  King's  death,  but  was  not  so  deeply 
afflicted  as  she  ought  to  have  been.    She  always  flattered 


MADAME    DE    MAINTENON  99 

herseif  with  the  hope  of  reigning  together  with  the  Duke 
du  Maine. 

From  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  their  connection, 
the  King's  society  was  always  irksome  to  her,  and  she 
did  not  scruple  to  say  so  to  her  own  relations.  She  had 
before  been  much  accustomed  to  the  company  of  men, 
but  afterwards  dared  see  none  but  the  King,  whom  she 
never  loved,  and  his  ministers.  This  made  her  ill- 
tempered,  and  she  did  not  fail  to  make  those  persons  who 
were  within  her  power  feel  its  effects.  My  son  and  I 
have  had  our  share  of  it.  She  thought  only  of  two 
things,  her  ambition  and  her  amusement.  The  old 
sorceress  never  loved  anyone  but  her  favourite,  the  Duke 
du  Maine.  Perceiving  that  the  Dauphine  was  desirous 
of  acting  for  herself  and  profiting  by  the  King's  favour, 
that  she  ridiculed  her  to  her  attendants,  and  seemed  not 
disposed  to  yield  to  her  domination,  she  withdrew  her 
attention  from  her,  and  if  the  Dauphine  had  not  possessed 
great  influence  with  the  King,  Maintenon  would  have 
turned  round  upon  her  former  favourite ;  she  was  there- 
fore very  soon  consoled  for  this  Princess's  death.  She 
thought  to  have  the  King  entirely  at  her  disposal  through 
the  Duke  du  Maine,  and  it  was  for  this  reason  that  she 
relied  so  much  upon  him,  and  was  so  deeply  afflicted  at 
his  imprisonment. 

She  was  not  always  so  malicious,  but  her  wickedness 
increased  with  her  years.  For  us  it  had  been  well  that 
she  had  died  twenty  years  before,  but  for  the  honour  of 
the  late  King  that  event  ought  to  have  taken  place 
thirty-three  years  back ;  for,  if  I  do  not  mistake,  she  was 
married  to  the  King  two  years  after  the  Queen's  death, 
which  happened  five-and-thirty  years  ago. 

7—2 


100  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

If  she  had  not  been  so  outrageously  inveterate  against 
me,  she  could  have  done  me  much  more  injury  -with  the 
King,  but  she  set  about  it  too  violently ;  this  caused  the 
King  to  perceive  that  it  was  mere  malice,  and  therefore  it 
had  no  effect.     There  were  three  reasons  why  she  hated 
me  horribly ;    the  first  was,   that  the  King  treated  me 
favourably.     I  was  twenty-five  years  of  age  when  she 
came  into  power ;  she  saw  that,  instead  of  suffering  myself 
to  be  governed  by  her,  I  would  have  my  own  way,  and 
as  the  King  was  kind  to  me,  that  I  should  undeceive 
him  and  counsel  him  not  to  suffer  himself  to  be  blindly 
led  by  so  worthless  a  person.      The  second  reason  was 
that,   knowing    how   much    I    must    disapprove    of   her 
marriage  with  the  King,  she  imagined  I  should  always 
be  an  obstacle  to   her  being   proclaimed   Queen ;    and 
the  third  was,  that  I  had  always  taken  the  Dauphine's 
part  whenever  Maintenon  had  mortified  her.    The  poor 
Dauphine  did   not   know  what  to  do  with  Maintenon, 
who   possessed   the    King's   heart,   and  was   acquainted 
with  all  his  intentions.     Notwithstanding  all  the  favour 
she  enjoyed,  the  old  lady  was  somewhat  timid.     If  the 
Dauphine   could    have   summoned   courage   to   threaten 
Maintenonj  as  I  advised  her,   to  hint  that  her  previous 
life  was  well  known,  and  that  unless  she  behaved  better 
to  the  Dauphine   the   latter  would   expose   her  to   the 
King,  but  that  if,  on  the  contrary,  she  would  live  quietly 
and    on    good    terms,    silence    should    be    kept,    then 
Maintenon  would  have  pursued  a  very  different  conduct. 
That   wicked   Bessola^   always   prevented   this,  because 
then  she  would  have  had  no  more  tales  to  tell. 

I  Bessola  was   the    Dauphine's   German  femme-de-chatnbre  and 
her  confidante. 


MADAME    DE    MAINTENON  lOl 

One  day  I  found  the  Dauphine  in  the  greatest 
distress  and  drowned  in  tears,  because  the  old  woman 
had  threatened  to  make  her  miserable,  to  have  Madame 
du  IMaine  preferred  to  her,  to  make  her  odious  to  the 
whole  Court  and  to  the  King  besides.  I  laughed  when 
she  told  me  all  this. 

"  Is  it  possible,"  I  said,  "  with  so  much  sense  and 
courage  as  you  possess  that  you  will  suffer  this  old 
hag  to  frighten  you  thus.  You  can  have  nothing  to 
fear:  you  are  the  Dauphine,  the  first  person  in  the 
kingdom;  no  one  can  do  you  any  mischief  without 
the  most  serious  cause.  When,  therefore,  they  threaten 
you,  answer  boldly:  'I  do  not  fear  your  menaces: 
Madame  de  Maintenon  is  too  much  beneath  me,  and 
the  King  is  too  just  to  condemn  without  hearing  me. 
If  you  compel  me  I  will  speak  to  him  myself,  and  we 
shall  see  whether  he  will  protect  me  or  not.'  " 

The  Dauphine  was  not  backward  in  repeating  this 
word  for  word.  The  old  woman  immediately  said,  "This 
is  not  your  own  speech ;  this  proceeds  from  Madame's 
bad  advice ;  you  have  not  courage  enough  to  think  thus 
for  yourself;  however,  we  shall  see  whether  Madame's 
friendship  will  be  profitable  to  you  or  not."  But  from 
that  time  forth  she  never  threatened  the  Princess.  She 
had  introduced  the  name  of  the  Duchess  du  Maine 
adroitly  enough  in  her  threats  to  the  Dauphine,  because 
having  educated  the  Duke  she  thought  her  power  at 
Court  was  unlimited,  and  wished  to  shew  that  she  could 
prefer  the  last  Princess  of  the  blood  before  the  first 
person  in  France,  and  that  therefore  it  was  expedient  to 
submit   to  her  and   obey   her.     But  Bessola,  who  was 


102  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

jealous  of  me,  and  could  not  bear  that  the  Dauphine 
should  confide  in  me,  had  been  bought  over  by  the  old 
woman,  to  whom  she  betrayed  us,  and  told  her  all  that  I 
had  said  to  console  the  Princess ;  she  was  commissioned, 
besides,  to  torment  and  intimidate  her  mistress  as  much 
as  possible,  and  acquitted  herself  to  a  miracle,  terrifying 
her  to  death,  and  at  the  same  time  seeming  to  act  only 
from  attachment,  and  to  be  entirely  devoted  to  her. 
The  poor  Dauphine  never  distrusted  this  woman,  who 
had  been  educated  with  her,  and  had  accompanied  her 
to  France ;  she  did  not  imagine  that  falsehood  and 
perfidy  existed  to  such  an  extent  as  this  infernal  creature 
carried  them.  I  was  perfectly  amazed  at  it.  I  opposed 
Bessola,  and  did  all  I  could  to  console  the  Dauphine  and 
to  alleviate  her  vexation.  She  told  me  when  she  was 
dying  that  I  had  prolonged  her  life  by  two  years  by 
inspiring  her  with  courage.  My  exertions,  however, 
procured  for  me  Maintenon's  cordial  hatred,  which 
lasted  to  the  end  of  her  life.  Although  the  Dauphine 
might  have  something  to  reproach  herself  with,  she  was 
not  to  be  taken  to  task  for  it  by  that  old  woman,  for 
who  had  ever  led  a  less  circumspect  life  than  she?  In 
public,  or  when  we  were  together,  she  never  said  any- 
thing unpleasant  to  me,  for  she  knew  that  I  would  not 
have  failed  to  answer  her  properly,  as  I  knew  her  whole 
life.  Villarceaux  had  told  me  more  of  her  than  I  desired 
to  know. 

When  the  King  was  talking  to  me  on  his  death-bed 
she  turned  as  red  as  the  fire. 

"  Go  away,  Madame,"  said  she  ;  "  the  King  is  too 
much  affected  while  he  talks  to  you  ;  it  may  do  him 
harm.     Pray  go  away." 


MADAME    DE    MAINTENON  IO3 

As  I  went  out  she  followed  me  and  said,  "  Do  not 
think,  Madame,  that  I  have  ever  done  you  an  ill  turn 
with  the  King." 

I  answered  her  with  tears,  for  I  thought  I  should 
choke  with  grief :  "  Madame,  do  not  let  us  talk  upon 
that  subject,"  and  so  quitted  her. 

That  humpbacked  old  Fagon,  her  favourite,  used  to 
say  that  he  disliked  Christianity  because  it  would  not 
allow  him  to  build  a  temple  to  Maintenon  and  an  altar 
to  worship  her. 

The  only  trait  in  her  character  that  I  can  find  to 
praise  is  her  conduct  to  Montchevreuil ;  although  she 
was  a  wicked  old  devil,  Maintenon  had  reason  to  love 
her  and  be  kind  to  her,  for  she  had  fed  and  clothed  her 
when  INIaintenon  was  in  great  want. 

I  believe  the  old  woman  would  not  procure  for 
Madame  de  Dangeau^  the  privilege  of  the  tahoiiret,  only 
because  she  was  a  German  and  of  good  family.  She 
once  had  two  young  girls  from  Strasbourg  brought  to 
Court,  and  made  them  pass  for  Countesses  Palatine, 
placing  them  in  the  office  of  attendants  upon  her  nieces. 
I  did  not  know  a  word  of  it  until  the  Dauphine  came  to 
tell  it  me  with  tears  in  her  eyes. 

I  said  to  her,  "Do  not  disturb  yourself,  leave  me 
alone  to  act ;  when  I  have  a  good  reason  for  what  I  do,  I 
despise  the  old  witch." 

When  I  saw  from  my  window  the  niece  walking 
with  these  German  girls,  I  went  into  the  garden  and  met 
them.     I  called  one  of  them,  and  asked  her  who  she  was. 

I  Sophia  de  Loewenstein,  second  wife  of  Philippe  de  Courcillon, 
Marquis  de  Dangeau,  author  of  the  Journal  de  la  Coiir  de  Louis  XIV. 


104  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

She  told  me,  boldly,  that  she  was  a  Countess  Palatine  of 
Lutzelstein. 

'«  By  the  left  hand?  "  I  asked. 

"  No,"  she  replied,  "  I  am  not  illegitimate ;  the 
young  Count  Palatine  married  my  mother,  who  is  of 
the  house  of  Gehlen." 

"In  that  case,"  I  said,  "you  cannot  be  Countess 
Palatine  ;  for  we  never  allow  such  unequal  marriages  to 
hold  good.  I  will  tell  you,  moreover,  that  you  lie  when 
you  say  that  the  Count  Palatine  married  your  mother ; 

she    is   a ,   and    the    Count    has    married    her    no 

more  than  a  hundred  others  have  done ;  I  know  her 
lawful  husband  is  a  hautboy-player.  If  you  presume,  in 
future,  to  pass  yourself  off  as  a  Countess  Palatine  I  will 
have  you  stripped  ;  let  me  never  again  hear  anything 
of  this ;  but  if  you  will  follow  my  advice,  and  take  your 
proper  name,  I  shall  not  reproach  you.  And  now  you 
see  what  you  have  to  choose  between." 

The  girl  took  this  so  much  to  heart  that  she  died 
some  days  afterwards.  As  for  the  second,  she  was  sent 
to  a  boarding-house  in  Paris,  where  she  became  as  bad 
as  her  mother;  but  as  she  changed  her  name  I  did  not 
trouble  myself  any  further  about  her. 

I  told  the  Dauphine  what  I  had  done,  who  was  very 
much  obliged  to  me,  and  confessed  she  should  not  have 
had  courage  enough  to  do  it  herself.  She  feared  that 
the  King  would  be  displeased  with  me ;  but  he  only  said 
to  me  jestingly,  "  One  must  not  play  tricks  with  you 
about  your  family,  for  it  seems  to  be  a  matter  of  life  or 
death  with  you." 

I  repHed,  "  I  hate  lies." 

There  was  a  troop  of  Italian  players  who  had  got  up 


MADAME    DE   MAINTENON  I05 

a  comedy  called  The  Pretended  Prude.  When  I  learnt 
they  were  going  to  represent  it,  I  sent  for  them  and  told 
them  not  to  do  so.  It  was  in  vain  ;  they  played  it,  and 
got  a  great  deal  of  money  by  it ;  but  they  were  afterwards 
sent  away  in  consequence.  They  then  came  to  me  and 
wanted  me  to  intercede  for  them ;  but  I  said, — "  Why 
did  you  not  take  my  advice  ?  "  It  was  said  they  hit  oft 
the  character  of  Maintenon  with  the  most  amusing 
fidelity.  I  should  have  liked  to  have  seen  it,  but  I  would 
not  go  lest  the  old  woman  should  have  told  the  King 
that  I  had  planned  it  out  of  ill-will  to  her.^ 

I  The  Italian  players  who  were  sent  away  by  Louis  XIV. 
on  account  of  this  piece,  were  recalled  during  the  Regency,  took 
the  title  of  the  Regent's  Comedians,  and  were  very  successful. 


SECT.  VII. 

THE    QUEEN-CONSORT    OF    LOUIS   XIV. 

Our  Queen  was  excessively  ignorant,  but  the 
kindest  and  most  virtuous  woman  in  the  world ;  she 
had  a  certain  greatness  in  her  manner,  and  knew  how 
to  hold  a  Court  extremely  well.  She  believed  every- 
thing the  King  told  her,  good  or  bad.  Her  teeth  were 
very  ugly,  being  black  and  broken.  It  was  said  that 
this  proceeded  from  her  being  in  the  constant  habit  of 
taking  chocolate  ;  she  also  frequently  ate  garlic.  She 
was  short  and  fat,  and  her  skin  was  very  white.  When 
she  was  not  walking  or  dancing  she  seemed  much  taller. 
She  ate  frequently  and  for  a  long  time  ;  but  her  food 
was  always  cut  in  pieces  as  small  as  if  they  were  for 
a  singing  bird.  She  could  not  forget  her  country,  and 
her  manners  were  always  remarkably  Spanish.  She 
was  very  fond  of  play ;  she  played  basset,  reversis, 
ombre,  and  sometimes  a  little  primero;  but  she  never 
won  because  she  did  not  know  how  to  play. 

She  had  such  an  affection  for  the  King  that  she 
used  to  watch  his  eyes  to  do  whatever  might  be  agreeable 
to  him ;  if  he  only  looked  at  her  kindly  she  was  in  good 
spirits  for  the  rest  of  the  day.  She  was  very  glad  when 
the  King  quitted  his  mistresses  for  her,  and  displayed  so 
much  satisfaction  at  it  that  it  was  commonly  remarked. 
She  had  no  objection  to  being  joked  upon  this  subject, 
and  upon  such  occasions  used  to  laugh  and  wink  and  rub 
her  little  hands. 


THE    QUEEN-CONSORT  IO7 

One  day  the  Queen,  after  having  conversed  for 
half-an-hour  with  Prince  Egon  de  Furstemberg,^  took 
me  aside  and  said  to  me,  "  Did  you  know  what 
M.  de  Strasbourg  has  been  saying  ?  I  have  not  under- 
stood him  at  all." 

A  few  minutes  afterwards  the  Bishop  said  to  me, 
"  Did  your  Royal  Highness  hear  what  the  Queen  said  to 
me  ?     I  have  not  comprehended  a  single  word." 

"  Then,"  said  I,  "  why  did  you  answer  her." 

"  I  thought,"  he  replied,  *'  that  it  would  have  been 
indecorous  to  have  appeared  not  to  understand  Her 
Majesty." 

This  made  me  laugh  so  much  that  I  was  obliged 
precipitately  to  quit  the  Chamber. 

The  Queen  died  of  an  abscess  under  her  arm. 
Instead  of  making  it  burst,  Fagon,  who  was  unfor- 
tunately then  her  physician,  had  her  blooded  ;  this  drove 
in  the  abscess,  the  disorder  attacked  her  internally,  and 
an  emetic,  which  was  administered  after  her  bleeding, 
had  the  effect  of  killing  the  Queen. 

The  surgeon  who  blooded  her  said,  "  Have  you 
considered  this  well,  sir?  It  will  be  the  death  of  my 
Mistress !  " 

Fagon  replied,  "  Do  as  I  bid  you." 

Gervais,  the  surgeon,  wept,  and  said  to  Fagon, 
"  You  have  resolved,  then,  that  my  Mistress  shall  die 
by  my  hand  !  " 

Fagon  had  her  blooded  at  eleven  o'clock ;  at  noon 
he  gave  her  an  emetic,  and  three  hours  afterwards  she 
was  dead.     It  may  be  truly  said  that  with  her  died  all 

I  Cardinal  Furstemberg,  Bishop  of  Strasbourg. 


Io8  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

the  happiness  of  France.  The  King  was  deeply  grieved 
by  this  event,  which  that  old  villain  Fagon  brought  about 
expressly  for  the  purpose  of  confirming  that  mischievous 
old  woman's  fortune. 

After  the  Queen's  death  I  also  happened  to  have  an 
abscess.  Fagon  did  all  he  could  to  make  the  King 
recommend  me  to  be  blooded  ;  but  I  said  to  him,  in  his 
Majesty's  presence,  "No,  I  shall  do  no  such  thing.  I 
shall  treat  myself  according  to  my  own  method ;  and  if 
you  had  done  the  same  to  the  Queen  she  would  have 
been  alive  now.  I  shall  suffer  the  abscess  to  gather, 
and  then  I  shall  have  it  opened."  I  did  so,  and  soon 
got  well. 

The  King  said  very  kindly  to  me, — 

"  Madame,  I  am  afraid  you  will  kill  yourself." 

I  replied,  laughing,  "  Your  Majesty  is  too  good  to 
me,  but  I  am  quite  satisfied  with  not  having  followed 
my  physician's  advice,  and  you  will  soon  see  that  I 
shall  do  very  well." 

After  my  convalescence  I  said  at  table,  in  presence 
of  my  two  doctors,  Daguin,  who  was  then  first  physician, 
and  Fagon,  who  succeeded  him  upon  his  being  dis- 
graced,— 

*'  Your  Majesty  sees  that  I  was  right  to  have  my 
own  way ;  for  I  am  quite  well,  notwithstanding  all  the 
wise  sayings  and  arguments  of  these  gentlemen." 

They  were  a  little  confused,  but  put  it  off  with  a 
laugh ;    and  Fagon  said  to  me, — 

"  When  folks  are  as  robust  as  you,  Madame,  they 
may  venture  to  risk  somewhat." 

I  replied,  "  If  I  am  robust,  it  is  because  I  never 
take  medicine  but  on  urgent  occasions." 


SECT.  VIII. 

PHILIPPE    I.,    DUKE    OF    ORLEANS. 

Cardinal  Mazarin  perceiving  that  the  King  had 
less  readiness  than  his  brother,  was  apprehensive  lest 
the  latter  should  become  too  learned  ;  he  therefore 
enjoined  the  preceptor^  to  let  him  play,  and  not  to 
suflfer  him  to  apply  to  his  studies. 

'•  What  can  you  be  thinking  of,  M.  la  Mothe  le 
Vayer,"  said  the  Cardinal,  "  would  you  try  to  make 
the  King's  brother  a  clever  man  ?  if  he  should  be 
more  wise  than  his  brother,  he  would  not  be  qualified 
for  implicit  obedience." 

Never  were  two  brothers  more  totally  different  in 
their  appearance  than  the  King  and  Monsieur.  The  King 
was  tall,  with  light  hair ;  his  mien  was  good  and  his 
deportment  manly.  Monsieur,  without  having  a  vulgar 
air,  was  very  small ;  his  hair  and  eye-brows  were  quite 
black,  his  eyes  were  dark,  his  face  long  and  narrow, 
his  nose  large,  his  mouth  small,  and  his  teeth  very 
bad ;  he  was  fond  of  play,  of  holding  drawing-rooms,  of 
eating,  dancing,  and  dress ;  in  short,  of  all  that  women 
are  fond  of.  The  King  loved  the  chase,  music,  and  the 
theatre  ;  my  husband  rather  affected  large  parties  and 
masquerades  :  his  brother  was  a  man  of  great  gallantry, 
and  I  do  not  believe  my  husband  was  ever  in  love  during 

I  Fran9ois  de  la  Mothe  le  Vayer  was  Monsieur's  preceptor. 


no  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

his  life.  He  danced  well,  but  in  a  feminine  manner  ;  he 
could  not  dance  like  a  man  because  his  shoes  were  too 
high-heeled.  Excepting  when  he  was  with  the  army,  he 
would  never  get  on  horseback.  The  soldiers  used  to  say 
that  he  was  more  afraid  of  being  sun-burnt  and  of  the 
blackness  of  the  powder  than  of  the  musket-balls  ;  and  it 
was  very  true.  He  was  very  fond  of  building.  Before 
he  had  the  Palais  Royal  completed,  and  particularly  the 
grand  apartment,  the  place  was,  in  my  opinion,  perfectly 
horrible,  although  in  the  Queen-mother's  time  it  had 
been  very  much  admired.  He  was  so  fond  of  the  ringing 
of  bells  that  he  used  to  go  to  Paris  on  All  Souls'  Day 
for  the  purpose  of  hearing  the  bells,  which  are  rung 
during  the  whole  of  the  vigils  on  that  day :  he  liked  no 
other  music,  and  was  often  laughed  at  for  it  by  his 
friends.  He  would  join  in  the  joke,  and  confess  that  a 
peal  of  bells  delighted  him  beyond  all  expression.  He 
liked  Paris  better  than  any  other  place,  because  his 
secretary  was  there,  and  he  lived  under  less  restraint  than 
at  Versailles.  He  wrote  so  badly  that  he  was  often 
puzzled  to  read  his  own  letters,  and  would  bring  them  to 
me  to  decipher  them. 

"  Here,  Madame,"  he  used  to  say,  laughing,  "  you 
are  accustomed  to  my  writing ;  be  so  good  as  to  read  me 
this,  for  I  really  cannot  tell  what  I  have  been  writing." 
We  have  often  laughed  at  it. 

He  was  of  a  good  disposition  enough,  and  if  he  had 
not  yielded  so  entirely  to  the  bad  advice  of  his  favourites, 
he  would  have  been  the  best  master  in  the  world.  I 
loved  him,  although  he  had  caused  me  a  great  deal  of 
pain  ;  but  during  the  last  three  years  of  his  Hfe  that  was 
totally  altered.     I  had  brought  him  to  laugh  at  his  own 


THE    DUKE    OF    ORLEANS  HI 

weakness,  and  even  to  take  jokes  without  caring  for 
them.  From  the  period  that  I  had  been  calumniated  and 
accused,  he  would  suffer  no  one  again  to  annoy  me  ;  he 
had  the  most  perfect  confidence  in  me,  and  took  my  part 
so  decidedly,  that  his  favourites  dare  not  practise  against 
me.  But  before  that  I  had  suffered  terribly.  I  was  just 
about  to  be  happy,  when  Providence  thought  fit  to  deprive 
me  of  my  poor  husband.  For  thirty  years  I  had  been 
labouring  to  gain  him  to  myself,  and  just  as  my  design 
seemed  to  be  accomplished,  he  died.  He  had  been  so 
much  importuned  upon  the  subject  of  my  affection  for 
him  that  he  begged  me  for  Heaven's  sake  not  to  love 
him  any  longer,  because  it  was  so  troublesome.  I  never 
suffered  him  go  alone  anywhere  without  his  express 
orders. 

The  King  often  complained  that  he  had  not  been 
allowed  to  converse  sufficiently  with  people  in  his  youth  ; 
but  taciturnity  was  a  part  of  his  character,  for  INIonsieur, 
who  was  brought  up  with  him,  conversed  with  every- 
body. The  King  often  laughed,  and  said  that  Monsieur's 
chattering  had  put  him  out  of  conceit  with  talking.  We 
used  to  joke  Monsieur  upon  his  once  asking  questions  of 
a  person  who  came  to  see  him. 

"  I  suppose,  sir,"  said  he,  "  you  come  from  the 
army  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  the  visitor,  "  I  have  never 
joined   it." 

"  You  arrive  here,  then,  from  your  country  house  ?  " 

"  Sir,  I  have  no  country  house." 

"  In  that  case,  I  imagine  you  are  living  at  Paris 
with  your  family  ?  " 

*'  Sir.  I  am  not  married." 


112  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

Everybody  present  at  this  burst  into  a  laugh,  and 
Monsieur  in  some  confusion  had  nothing  more  to  say. 
It  is  true  that  Monsieur  was  more  generally  liked  at 
Paris  than  the  King,  on  account  of  his  affability. 
When  the  King,  however,  wished  to  make  himself 
agreeable  to  any  person,  his  manners  were  the  most 
engaging  possible,  and  he  won  people's  hearts  much 
more  readily  than  my  husband  ;  for  the  latter,  as  well 
as  my  son,  was  too  generally  civil.  He  did  not  dis- 
tinguish people  sufficiently,  and  behaved  very  well 
only  to  those  who  were  attached  to  the  Chevalier  de 
Lorraine^  and  his  favourites. 

Monsieur  was  not  of  a  temper  to  feel  any  sorrow 
very  deeply.  He  loved  his  children  too  well  even  to 
reprove  them  when  they  deserved  it ;  and  if  he  had 
occasion  to  make  complaints  of  them,  he  used  to  come 
to  me  with  them. 

"But,  Monsieur,"  I  have  said,  "they  are  your 
children  as  well  as  mine,  why  do  you  not  correct  them  ?  " 

He  replied,  "  I  do  not  know  how  to  scold,  and 
besides  they  would  not  care  for  me  if  I  did  ;  they  fear 
no  one  but  you." 

By  always  threatening  the  children  with  me,  he  kept 
them  in  constant  fear  of  me.  He  estranged  them  from 
me  as  much  as  possible,  but  he  left  me  to  exercise  more 
authority  over  my  elder  daughter  and  over  the  Queen  of 
Sicily  than  over  my  son  ;  he  could  not,  however,  prevent 
my  occasionally  telling  them  what  I  thought.  My 
daughter  never  gave  me  any  cause  to  complain  of  her. 
Monsieur  was  always  jealous  of  the  children,  and  was 

I  Philippe  de  Lorraine  Armagnac,  Knight  of  Malta,  called  Le 
Chevalier  de  Lorraine,  Monsieur's  favourite. 


THE    DUKE    OF    ORLEANS  II3 

afraid  they  would  love  me  better  than  him  :  it  was  for 
this  reason  that  he  made  them  believe  I  disapproved  of 
almost  all  they  did.  I  generally  pretended  not  to  see  this 
contrivance. 

Without  being  really  fond  of  any  woman,  Monsieur 
used  to  amuse  himself  all  day  in  the  company  of  old  and 
young  ladies  to  please  the  King  :  in  order  not  to  be  out 
of  the  Court  fashion,  he  even  pretended  to  be  amorous  ; 
but  he  could  not  long  keep  up  a  deception  so  contrary  to 
his  natural  inclination.  Madame  de  Fiennes  said  to  him 
one  day,  "  You  are  in  much  more  danger  from  the  ladies 
you  visit,  than  they  are  from  you."  It  was  even  said 
that  Madame  de  Monaco  had  attempted  to  give  him 
some  violent  proofs  of  her  affection.  He  pretended  to 
be  in  love  with  Madame  de  Grancei ;  but  if  she  had  had 
no  other  lover  than  Monsieur  she  might  have  preserved 
her  reputation.  Nothing  culpable  ever  passed  between 
them  ;  and  he  always  endeavoured  to  avoid  being  alone 
with  her.  She  herself  said  that  whenever  they  happened 
to  be  alone  he  was  in  the  greatest  terror,  and  pretended 
to  have  the  toothache  or  the  headache.  They  told  a 
story  of  the  lady  asking  him  to  touch  her,  and  that  he 
put  on  his  gloves  before  doing  so.  I  have  often  heard 
him  ralHed  about  this  anecdote,  and  have  often  laughed 
at  it. 

Madame  de  Grancei  was  one  of  the  most  foolish 
women  in  the  world.  She  was  very  handsome  at  the 
time  of  my  arrival  in  France,  and  her  figure  was  as 
good  as  her  face:  besides,  she  was  not  so  much  dis- 
regarded by  others  as  by  my  husband ;  for,  before  the 
Chevalier  de  Lorraine  became  her  lover,  she  had  had 
a  child.     I  knew  well  that  nothing  had  passed  between 

8 


114  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

Monsieur  and  Grancei,  and  I  was  never  jealous  of  them; 
but  I  could  not  endure  that  she  should  derive  a  profit 
from  my  household,  and  that  no  person  could  purchase 
an  employment  in  it  without  paying  a  douceur  to  her. 
I  was  also  often  indignant  at  her  insolence  to  me,  and  at 
her  frequently  embroiling  me  with  Monsieur.  It  was  for 
these  reasons,  and  not  from  jealousy,  as  was  fancied  by 
those  who  knew  nothing  about  it,  that  I  sometimes 
sharply  reprimanded  her.  The  Chevalier  de  Lorraine, 
upon  his  return  from  Rome,  became  her  declared  lover. 
It  was  through  his  contrivances,  and  those  of  D'Effiat, 
that  she  was  brought  into  the  house  of  Monsieur, 
who  really  cared  nothing  about  her.  Her  continued 
solicitations  and  the  behaviour  of  the  Chevalier  de 
Lorraine  had  so  much  disgusted  Monsieur,  that  if  he 
had  lived  he  would  have  got  rid  of  them  both. 

He  had  become  tired  of  the  Chevalier  de  Lorraine 
because  he  had  found  out  that  his  attachment  to  him 
proceeded  from  interested  motives.  When  Monsieur, 
misled  by  his  favourites,  did  something  which  was 
neither  just  nor  expedient,  I  used  to  say  to  him,  "  Out 
of  complaisance  to  the  Chevalier  de  Lorraine,  you  put 
your  good  sense  into  your  pocket,  and  button  it  up  so 
tight  that  it  cannot  be  seen." 

After  my  husband's  death  I  saw  Grancei  only  once ; 
I  met  her  in  the  garden.  When  she  ceased  to  be  hand- 
some, she  fell  into  utter  despair ;  and  so  great  a  change 
took  place  in  her  appearance,  that  no  one  would  have 
known  her.  Her  nose,  before  so  beautiful,  grew  long 
and  large,  and  was  covered  with  pimples,  over  each  of 
which  she  put  a  patch ;  this  had  a  very  singular  effect ; 
the  red  and  white  paint,  too,  did  not  adhere  to  her  face. 


THE    DUKE    OF   ORLEANS  II5 

Her  eyes  were  hollow  and  sunken,  and  the  alteration 
which  this  had  caused  in  her  face  cannot  be  imagined. 
In  Spain  they  lock  up  all  the  ladies  at  night,  even  to 
the  septuagenary  femmcs  de  chambre.  When  Grancei 
followed  our  Queen  to  Spain  as  dame  d'atour,  she  was 
locked  up  in  the  evening,  and  was  in  great  grief  about  it. 

When  she  was  dying,  she  cried,  "  Ah,  mon  Dieu, 
must  I  die,  who  have  never  once  thought  of  death  ?  " 

She  had  never  done  anything  but  sit  at  play  with 
her  lovers  until  five  or  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  feast, 
and  smoke  tobacco,  and  follow  uncontrolled  her  natural 
inclinations. 

When  she  reached  her  climacteric,  she  said,  in 
despair,  *'  Alas,  I  am  growing  old,  I  shall  have  no  more 
children." 

This  was  exceedingly  amusing  ;  and  her  friends,  as 
well  as  her  enemies,  laughed  at  it.  She  once  had  a  high 
dispute  with  Madame  de  Bouillon.  One  evening,  Grancei 
chose  to  hide  herself  in  one  of  the  recesses  formed  by 
the  windows  in  the  chamber  of  the  former  lady,  who, 
not  thinking  she  was  heard,  conversed  very  freely  with 
the  Marchioness  D'Alluye,^  respecting  the  hbertine  life 
of  Grancei ;  in  the  course  of  which  she  said  several 
strange  things  respecting  the  treatment  which  her  lovers 
had  experienced  from  her.  Grancei  at  length  rushed  out, 
and  fell  to  abusing  Madame  de  Bouillon  like  a  Billings- 
gate. The  latter  was  not  silent,  and  some  exceedingly 
elegant  discourse  passed  between  them.  Madame  de 
Bouillon  made  a  complaint  against  Grancei ;  in  the  first 

I  N.  de  Fouilloux,  Marchioness  d'Alluye ;  she  was  implicated 
in  the  affair  of  the  prisons  in  1680,  and  quitted  France  with  the 
Countess  de  Soissons,  sister  of  the  Duchess  de  Bouillon. 

8—2 


Il6  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

place,  for  having  listened  to  her  conversation  ;  and  in 
the  second,  for  having  insulted  her  in  her  own  house. 
Monsieur  reproved  Grancei ;  told  her  that  she  had 
brought  this  inconvenience  upon  herself  by  her  own 
indiscretion,  and  ordered  her  to  be  reconciled  with  her 
adversary. 

"  How  can  I,"  said  Grancei,  "  be  reconciled  to 
Madame  de  Bouillon,  after  all  the  wicked  things  she  has 
said  about  me  ?  "  But  after  a  moment's  reflection  she 
added,  "Yes,  I  can,  for  she  did  not  say  I  was  ugly." 

They  afterwards  embraced,  and  made  it  up. 

^:  :!;  ^;  :;;  :)s 

Monsieur  was  taken  ill  at  ten  o'clock  at  night,  but 
he  did  not  die  until  the  next  day  at  noon.  I  can  never 
think  of  this  night  without  horror.  I  remained  with  him 
from  ten  at  night  until  five  the  next  morning,  when  he 
lost  all  consciousness.^ 

The  Electors  of  Germany  woula  not  permit 
Monsieur  to  write  to  them  in  the  same  style  as  the 
King  did. 


1  The  Duke  of  Orleans  died  of  apoplexy  on  the  gth  June,  1701. 

— Vide  Les  Memoins  de  Dangeau. 


SECT.    IX. 

PHILIPPE    II.    DUKE    OF   ORLEANS,    REGENT    OF    FRANCE. 

From  the  age  of  fourteen  to  that  of  fifteen  years, 
my  son  was  not  ugly  ;  but  after  that  time  he  became 
very  much  sun-burnt  in  Italy  and  Spain.  Now,  how- 
ever, he  is  too  ruddy ;  he  is  fat,  but  not  tall,  and  yet 
he  does  not  seem  disagreeable  to  nie.  The  weakness 
of  his  eyes  causes  him  sometimes  to  squint.  When  he 
dances  or  is  on  horseback  he  looks  very  well,  but  he 
walks  horridly  ill.  In  his  childhood  he  was  so  delicate 
that  he  could  not  even  kneel  without  falling,  through 
weakness ;  by  degrees,  however,  his  strength  improved. 
He  loads  his  stomach  too  much  at  table :  he  has  a  notion 
that  it  is  good  to  make  only  one  meal ;  instead  of  dinner, 
he  takes  only  one  cup  of  chocolate,  so  that  by  supper  he  is 
extremely  hungry  and  thirsty.  In  answer  to  whatever 
objections  are  made  to  this  regimen,  he  says  he  cannot 
do  business  after  eating.  When  he  gets  tipsy,  it  is  not 
with  strong  potations  but  with  Champagne  or  Tokay. 
He  is  not  very  fond  of  the  chase.  The  weakness  of  his 
sight  arose  from  an  accident  which  befell  him  at  the  age 
of  four  years,  and  which  was  something  like  an  apoplexy. 
He  sees  well  enough  near,  and  can  read  the  smallest 
writing ;  but  at  the  distance  of  half  the  room  he  cannot 
distinguish  persons  without  a  glass.  He  had  an  appli- 
cation of  a  powder  to  that  eye  which  is  worst,  and 
although  it  had  caused   intolerable  pain   to  every  other 


Il8  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

person  who  had  used  it,  it  seemed  to  have  no  effect  upon 
him,  for  he  laughed  and  chatted  as  usual.  He  found 
some  benefit  from  this  ;  but  M.  Geudron  was  too  severe 
for  him.  That  physician  forbade  the  petits-soiipers  and  the 
amusements  which  usually  followed  them :  this  was  not 
agreeable  to  my  son,  and  those  who  used  to  frequent 
them  to  their  own  advantage ;  they  therefore  persuaded 
him  to  adopt  some  other  remedies  which  almost  deprived 
him  of  sight.  For  the  last  forty  years  (1719),  that  is  to 
say  since  the  accident  happened,  the  month  of  October 
has  never  elapsed  without  his  health  and  eyesight  being 
affected  towards  the  21st  in  some  way  or  other. 

He  was  only  seventeen  years  old  when  he  was 
married.  If  he  had  not  been  threatened  with  imprison- 
ment in  the  old  castle  of  Villers-Coterets,  and  if  hopes 
had  not  been  given  him  of  seeing  the  Duchess  of  Bourbon 
as  he  wished,  they  could  not  have  induced  him  to  form 
this  accursed  marriage.  It  is  my  son's  unlucky  destiny 
to  have  for  a  wife  a  woman  who  is  desirous  of  ruling 
everything  with  her  brothers.  It  is  commonly  said, 
that  where  one  sins  there  one  suffers ;  and  thus  it  has 
happened  to  my  son  with  respect  to  his  wife  and  his 
brother-in-law.  If  he  had  not  inflicted  upon  me  the 
deepest  vexation  by  uniting  himself  to  this  low  race,  he 
might  now  speak  to  them  boldly.  I  never  quarrelled 
with  my  son ;  but  he  was  angry  with  me  about  this 
marriage,  which  he  had  contracted  against  my  inclina- 
tion.^ As  I  sincerely  love  him,  I  have  forgotten  it;  and 
I  do  not  believe  that  we  shall  ever  quarrel  in  future. 

I  Duclos  says  in  his  Memoirs,  that  when  the  Duke  of  Orleans 
told  his  mother  of  his  intended  marriage,  she  was  in  so  great  a  rage 
that  she  soundly  boxed  his  ears. 


THE    REGENT    OF    FRANCE  II9 

When  I  have  anything  to  say  about  his  conduct,  I  say 
it  openly,  and  there  is  an  end  of  it.  He  behaves  to  me 
very  respectfully.  I  did  all  in  my  power  to  prevent  his 
marriage ;  but  since  it  did  take  place,  and  with  his 
consent,  though  without  mine,  I  wish  now  only  for  his 
tranquillity.  His  wife  fancies  that  she  has  done  him  an 
honour  in  marrying  him,  because  he  is  only  the  son  of 
the  brother  of  a  king,  while  she  is  the  daughter  of  a 
king ;    but    she  will  not    perceive    that    she  is   also  the 

daughter  of  a  .*      He  was  obliged  to  put  down  all 

his  feelings  of  nobility;  and  if  I  had  a  hundred  crowns 
for  as  many  times  as  he  has  since  repented  it,  I  could 
almost  buy  France  for  the  King,  and  pay  his  debts.  My 
son  visits  his  wife  every  day,  and  when  she  is  in  good 
humour  he  stays  with  her  a  long  time  ;  but  when  she  is 
ill-tempered,  which  unfortunately  happens  too  often,  he 
goes  away  without  saying  anything.  I  have  every 
reason  to  be  satisfied  with  him  ;  he  lives  on  very  good 
terms  with  me,  and  I  have  no  right  to  complain  of  his 
conduct ;  but  I  see  that  he  does  not  repose  much 
confidence  in  me,  and  I  know  many  persons  to  whom  he 
is  more  communicative. 

I  love  my  son  with  all  my  heart ;  but  I  cannot  see 
how  anyone  else  can,  for  his  manners  are  little  calculated 
to  inspire  love.  In  the  first  place,  he  is  incapable  of 
the  passion,  or  of  being  attached  to  anyone  for  a  long 
time  ;  in  the  second,  he  is  not  sufficiently  polished  and 
gallant   to   make   love,    but   sets   about    it    rudely   and 

I  This  singular  pride  of  the  Duchess  of  Orleans,  the  Regent's 
•wife,  with  respect  to  her  birth,  caused  her  to  be  compared  to 
Minerva,  who,  not  acknowledging  her  mother,  boasted  of  being  the 
daughter  of  Jupiter. 


120  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

coarsely ;  in  the  third,  he  is  very  indiscreet,  and  tells 
plainly  all  that  he  has  done. 

I  have  said  to  him  a  hundred  times,  "  I  wonder  how 
any  woman  can  run  after  you,  whom  they  ought  rather 
to  fly  from." 

He  would  reply,  laughing,  "  Ah !  you  do  not  know 
the  libertine  women  of  the  present  day ;  provided  they 
are  talked  of,  they  are  satisfied." 

There  was  an  affair  of  gallantry,  but  a  perfectly 
honourable  one,  between  him  and  the  Queen  of  Spain.  I 
do  not  know  whether  he  had  the  good  fortune  to  be 
agreeable  to  her,  but  I  know  he  was  not  at  all  in  love 
with  her.  He  thought  her  mien  and  figure  good,  but 
neither  her  manners  nor  her  face  were  agreeable  to  him. 

He  was  not  in  any  degree  romantic,  and  not  knowing 
how  to  conduct  himself  in  this  affair,  he  said  to  the  Duke 
de  Grammont,  "  You  understand  the  manner  of  Spanish 
gallantry ;  pray  tell  me  a  little  what  I  ought  to  say 
and  do." 

He  could  not,  however,  suit  the  fancy  of  the  Queen, 
who  was  for  pure  gallantry ;  those  who  were  less  delicate 
he  was  better  suited  for,  and  for  this  reason  it  was  said 
that  libertine  women  used  to  run  after  him. 


He  never  denied  that  he  was  indiscreet  and  incon- 
stant. Being  one  day  with  me  at  the  theatre,  and 
hearing  Valere  say  he  was  tired  of  his  mistress,  "  That 
has  been  my  case  often,"  he  cried.  I  told  him  he  never 
was  in  love  in  his  life,  and  that  what  he  called  love  was 
mere  debauchery. 

He  replied,  "  It  is  very  true  that  I  am  not  a  hero  of 


THE  REGENT  OF  FRANCE  121 

romance,  and  that  I  do  not  make  love  like  a  Celadon, 
but  I  love  in  my  way." 

"Your  way,"  I  said,  "is  an  extremely  gross  one." 
*         *        *         This  made  him  laugh. 

He  likes  the  business  of  his  gallantry  to  be  conducted 
with  beat  of  drum,  without  the  least  refinement.  He 
reminds  me  of  the  old  Patriarchs,  who  were  surrounded 
by  women. 

All  women  do  not  please  him  alike.  He  does  not 
like  fine  airs  so  well  as  profligate  manners :  the  opera- 
house  dancers  are  his  favourites.  The  women  run  after 
him  from  mere  interest,  for  he  pays  them  well.  A 
pleasant  enough  adventure  happened  last  winter  : 
A  young  and  pretty  woman  visited  my  son  in  his 
cabinet ;  he  presented  her  with  a  diamond  of  the  value 
of  2,000  louis  and  a  box  worth  200.  This  woman  had 
a  jealous  husband,  but  she  had  effrontery  enough  to 
shew  him  the  jewels  which  she  said  had  been  offered 
to  her  a  great  bargain  by  persons  who  wanted  the 
money,  and  she  begged  him  not  to  let  such  an  oppor- 
tunity slip.  The  credulous  husband  gave  her  the  money 
she  asked  for.  She  thanked  him,  put  the  box  in  her 
dressing-case  and  the  diamond  on  her  finger,  and 
displayed  it  in  the  best  company. 

When  she  was  asked  where  she  got  the  ring  and 
the  box,  "  M.  de  Parabere  gave  them  to  me,"  she 
said ;  and  he,  who  happened  to  be  present,  added, — 

"  Yes,  I  gave  them  to  her ;  can  one  do  less  when 
one  has  for  a  wife  a  lady  of  quality  who  loves  none  but 
her  husband  ?  " 

This  caused  some  mirth  ;  for  other  people  were  not 


122  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

SO  simple  as  the  husband,  and  knew  very  well  where  the 
presents  came  from.  If  my  son  has  a  queen-sultana,  it 
is  this  Madame  de  Parabere.  Her  mother,  Madame 
de  la  Vieuville,  was  dame  d'atouv  to  the  Duchess  de  Berri.^ 
It  was  there  that  my  son  first  became  acquainted  with 
the  daughter,  who  is  now  a  widow :  she  is  of  a  slight 
figure,  dark  complexion,  and  never  paints  ;  her  eyes  and 
mouth  are  pretty  ;  she  is  not  very  sensible,  but  is  a 
desirable  little  person.  My  sons  says  he  likes  her 
because  she  thinks  of  nothing  but  amusing  herself,  and 
never  interferes  with  other  affairs.  That  would  be  very 
well  if  she  were  not  a  drunkard,  and  if  she  did  not  make 
my  son  eat  and  drink  so  much,  and  take  him  to  a  farm 
which  she  has  at  Anieres,  and  where  he  sometimes 
sups  with  her  and  the  country  folks.  It  is  said  that 
he  becomes  a  little  jealous  of  Parabere,  in  which  case 
he  must  love  her  more  than  he  has  done  yet.  I  often 
tell  him  that  if  he  really  loved,  he  would  not  suffer  his 
mistresses  to  run  after  others,  and  to  commit  such 
frequent  infidelities.  He  replied  that  there  was  no 
such  thing  as  love  except  in  romances.  He  broke 
with  Seri,  because,  as  he  said,  she  wanted  him  to  love 
her  like  an  Arcadian.  He  has  often  made  me  laugh 
at  his  complaining  of  this  seriously,  and  with  an  air  of 
great  affliction. 

"Why  do  you  disturb  yourself?"  I  have  said  to 
him  ;  "  if  that  is  not  agreeable  to  you,  leave  her  alone. 
You  are  not  obliged  to  feign  a  love  which  you  do  not 
feel." 

•I  Marie  Madeleine  de  la  Vieuville,  Countess  de  la  Parabere  ;  it 
was  she  whom  the  Regent  used  to  call  "  his  little  black  crow," 


THE    REGENT   OF    FRANCE  I23 

This  convinces  me,  however,  that  my  son  is 
incapable  of  love.  He  willingly  eats,  drinks,  sings, 
and  amuses  himself  with  his  mistresses,  but  to  love 
one  of  them  more  than  another  is  not  his  way.  He  is 
not  afraid  of  application ;  but  when  he  has  been  actively 
engaged  from  morning  till  night  he  is  glad  to  divert 
himself  at  supper  with  such  persons.  It  is  for  this 
reason  that  Parabere,  who  is  said  to  be  a  great  fool,  is 
so  agreeable  to  him.  She  eats  and  drinks  astonishingly, 
and  plays  absurd  tricks,  which  divert  him  and  make 
him  forget  his  labour. 

My  son,  it  must  be  allowed,  possesses  some  great 
qualities.  He  has  good  sense,  understands  several 
languages,  is  fond  of  reading,  speaks  well,  has  studied 
much,  is  learned  and  acquainted  with  most  of  the 
arts,  however  difficult.  He  is  a  musician,  and  does 
not  compose  badly ;  he  paints  well,  he  understands 
chemistry,  is  well  versed  in  history,  and  is  quick  of 
comprehension.  He  soon,  however,  gets  tired  of  every- 
thing. He  has  an  excellent  memory,  is  expert  in  war, 
and  fears  nothing  in  the  world  ;  his  intentions  are  always 
just  and  fair,  and  if  his  actions  are  ever  otherwise,  it  is 
the  fault  of  others.  His  only  faults  are  that  he  is  too 
kind,  not  sufficiently  reserved,  and  apt  to  believe  people 
who  have  less  sense  than  himself ;  he  is  therefore  often 
deceived,  for  the  knaves  who  know  his  easiness  of  temper 
will  run  all  risks  with  him.  All  the  misfortunes  and 
inconveniences  which  befall  him  spring  from  that  cause. 
His  other  fault  is  one  not  common  to  Frenchmen,  the 
easiness  with  which  women  can  persuade  him,  and  this 
often  brings  him  into  domestic  quarrels.  He  can  refuse 
them  nothing,  and  even  carries  his  complaisance  so  far  as 


124  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

to  give  them  marks  of  affection  without  really  liking 
them.  When  I  tell  him  that  he  is  too  good,  he  says, 
"  Is  it  not  better  to  be  good  than  bad  ?  " 

He  was  always  extremely  weak,  too,  with  respect  to 
lovers,  who  chose  to  make  him  their  confidant. 

The  Duke  de  Saint  Simon  was  one  day  exceedingly 
annoyed  at  this  weakness  of  my  son,  and  said  to  him, 
angrily,  "  Ah  !  there  you  are  ;  since  the  days  of  Louis 
le  Debonnaire  there  has  been  nobody  so  dehonnaire  as 
yourself." 

My  son  w^as  much  amused  at  it. 

When  he  is  under  the  necessity  of  saying  anything 
harsh,  he  is  much  more  pained  at  it  than  the  person  who 
experiences  the  disgrace. 

He  is  not  fond  of  the  country,  but  prefers  living  in 
town.  He  is  in  this  respect  like  Madame  de  Longueville, 
who  was  tired  to  death  of  being  in  Normandy,  where  her 
husband  was.^  Those  who  were  about  her  said,  "  Mon 
Dieu,  Madame,  you  are  eaten  up  with  ennui ;  will  you 
not  take  some  amusement  ?  There  are  dogs  and  a 
beautiful  forest,  will  you  hunt  ?  " 

"  No,"  she  replied,  "  I  don't  like  hunting." 

"  Will  you  work  ?  " 

*'  No,  I  don't  like  work." 

"  Will  you  take  a  walk,  or  play  at  some  game  ?  " 

"  No,  I  like  neither  the  one  nor  the  other." 

"  What  will  you  do,  then  ?  "  they  asked. 

"What  can  I  do?"  she  said;  "I  hate  innocent 
pleasures." 

I  The  Duke  de  Longueville  was  Governor  of  Normandy  ;  and 
after  the  reduction  of  Bourdeaux,  in  1652,  the  Duchess  de  Longue- 
ville received  an  order  from  the  Court  to  repair  to  her  husband. 


THE    REGENT    OF    FRANCE  1 25 

My  son  understands  music  well,  as  all  the  musicians 
agree.  He  has  composed  two  or  three  operas,  which  are 
pretty.  La  Fare,  his  captain  of  the  guards,  wrote  the 
words.  He  had  them  played  in  his  palace,  but  never 
would  permit  them  to  be  represented  on  the  public  stage. 

When  he  had  nothing  to  do  he  painted  for  one 
of  the  Duchess's  cabinets  all  the  pastoral  romance  of 
"Daphnis  and  Chloe.^"  With  the  exception  of  the  first, 
he  invented  and  painted  all  the  subjects.  They  have 
been  engraved  by  one  Audran.  The  Duchess  thought 
them  so  pretty  that  she  had  them  worked  in  a  larger 
size  in  tapestry ;  and  these,  I  think,  are  better  than 
the  engravings. 

My  son's  learning  has  not  the  least  tinge  of  pedantry. 
He  knows  a  quantity  of  facetious  stories,  which  he  learnt 
in  Italy  and  in  Spain.  He  does  not  tell  them  badly, 
but  I  like  him  better  in  his  more  serious  moods,  because 
they  are  more  natural  to  him.  When  he  talks  upon 
learned  topics  it  is  easy  to  see  that  they  are  rather 
troublesome  to  him  than  otherwise.  I  often  blamed 
him  for  this ;  but  he  used  to  reply  that  it  was  not 
his  fault,  that  he  was  ready  enough  to  learn  anything, 
but  that  when  he  once  knew  it  he  no  longer  took 
pleasure  in  it. 

He  is  eloquent  enough,  and  when  he  chooses  he 

I  The  designs  for  the  romance  of  "  Daphnis  and  Chloe"  were 
composed  by  the  Regent,  with  the  advice,  and  probably  the  assist- 
ance, of  Claude  Audran,  a  distinguished  painter,  whom  Lebrun  often 
employed  to  help  him  with  his  large  pictures.  He  painted  a  part  of 
the  battles  of  Alexander.  These  designs  were  engraved  by  Benoit 
Audran;  they  embellish  what  is  called  "the  Regent's  edition"  of 
the  Pastoral  of  Longus,  which  was  printed  under  his  inspection  in 
the  year  1718.  It  is  somewhat  surprising  that  Madame  should  speak 
so  disdainfully  of  so  eminent  an  artist  as  Benoit  Audran. 


126  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

can  talk  with  dignity.  He  has  a  Jesuit  for  his  confessor, 
but  he  does  not  suffer  himself  to  be  ruled  by  him. 
He  pretends  that  his  daughter  has  no  influence  over 
him.  He  was  delighted  when  he  obtained  the  command 
of  the  Spanish  army,  and  was  pleased  with  everything 
in  that  country ;  this  procured  him  the  hatred  of  the 
Princess  des  Ursins,  who  feared  that  my  son  would 
diminish  her  authority  and  gain  more  of  the  confidence 
of  the  Spaniards  than  she  possessed. 

He  learned  to  cook  during  his  stay  with  the  army 
in   Spain. 

I  cannot  tell  where  he  learned  so  much  patience ; 
I  am  sure  it  was  neither  from  Monsieur  nor  from  me. 

When  he  acted  from  himself  I  always  found  him 
reasonable  ;  but  he  too  often  confided  in  rogues,  who 
had  not  half  his  sense,  and  then  all  went  wrong. 

My  son  is  like  all  the  rest  of  his  family ;  when 
they  had  become  accustomed  to  a  thing  they  suffered 
it  to  go  its  own  way.  It  was  for  this  reason  he  could 
not  persuade  himself  to  shake  off  the  Abbe  Dubois, 
although  he  kncv  him  to  be  a  rascal.  This  Abbe  had 
the  impudence  to  try  to  persuade  even  me  that  the 
marriage  he  had  brought  about  was  an  excellent  one. 

"  But  the  honour  which  is  lost  in  it,"  said  I,  "how 
will  you  repair  that  ?  " 

Old  Maintenon  had  made  immense  promises  to 
him,  as  well  as  to  my  son  ;  but,  thank  God,  she  kept 
neither  the  one  nor  the  other. 

It  is  intolerable  that  my  son  will  go  about  day 
and  night  with  that  wicked  and  impertinent  Noce. 
I  hate  that  Noce  as  I  hate  the  devil.  He  and  Broglio 
run  all  risks,  because  they  are  thus  enabled  to  sponge 


THE    REGENT    OF    FRANCE  1 27 

upon  my  son.  It  is  said  that  Noce  is  jealous  of 
Parabere,  who  has  fallen  in  love  with  some  one  else. 
This  proves  that  my  son  is  not  jealous.  The  person  with 
whom  she  has  fallen  in  love  has  long  been  a  sort  of 
adventurer  :  it  is  Clermont,^  a  captain  in  my  son's  Swiss 
Guard  ;  the  same  who  preferred  Chouin  to  the  great 
Princess  of  Conti.  It  is  said  that  Noce  utters  whatever 
comes  into  his  head,  and  about  any  persons  ;  this  makes 
my  son  laugh,  and  amuses  him,  for  Noce  has  wit  and 
can  do  this  pleasantly  enough.  His  father  was  under- 
governor  to  my  son,  who  has  thus  been  accustomed  from 
his  infancy  to  this  wicked  rascal,  and  who  is  very  fond 
of  him.  I  do  not  know  for  what  reason,  for  he  is  a  person 
who  fears  neither  God  nor  man,  and  has  not  a  single 
good  point  about  him ;  he  is  green,  black,  and  deep 
yellow ;  he  is  ten  years  older  than  my  son ;  it  is  incredible 
how  many  millions  this  mercenary  rogue  has  drawn  from 
him.  Madame  de  Berri  has  told  me  that  Broglio's  jokes 
consist  only  in  saying  openly  the  most  horrible  things. 
The  Broglii  are  of  Italian^  extraction,  but  have  been 
long  settled  in  France.  There  were  three  brothers,  the 
elder  of  whom  died  in  the  army;  the  second  was  an  abbe, 
but  he  cast  aside  his  gown,  and  he  is  the  knave  of  whom 
I  have  been  speaking.     The  third'  is  still  serving  in  the 

1  Jean-Baptiste  de  Clermont  Chate,  who  had  an  intrigue  witli 
Mademoiselle  Chouin,  fille  d'honneur  to  the  Princess  of  Conti. — See 
Les  Memoires  des  Caylus,  and  the  note  to  the  letter  from  Coulanges  to 
Madame  de  Sevigne,  27th  August,  1694. 

2  From  Lucern,  in  Piedmont. 

3  Frangoise-Marie,  Marshal,  Duke  de  BrogHo,  born  in  1671. 
entered  the  service  1689.  He  served  in  the  different  campaigns  in 
Italy,  Germany,  and  Flanders,  until  1743,  and  died  two  years  after- 
wards. In  1724  he  was  appointed  ambassador  to  England,  where  he 
concluded  in  the  following  year  the  treaty  of  alliance  between 
England,  France,  and  Russia. 


128  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

army,  and  according  to  common  report  is  one  of  the 
best  gentlemen  in  the  world.  My  son  does  not  Hke  him 
so  well  as  his  good-for-nothing  brother,  because  he  is  too 
serious,  and  would  not  become  his  buffoon.  My  son 
excuses  himself  by  saying  that  when  he  quits  business 
he  wants  something  to  make  him  laugh,  and  that  young 
Broglio  is  not  old  enough  for  this ;  that  if  he  had  a 
confidential  business,  or  a  warUke  expedition  to  perform, 
he  would  prefer  him  ;  but  that  for  laughing  and  dissipa- 
tion of  all  sorts,  his  elder  brother  is  more  fit. 

My  son  has  three  natural  children,  two  boys  and  a 
girl,  of  whom  only  one  has  been  legitimated ;  that  is,  his 
son  by  Mademoiselle  de  Seri,^  who  was  my  maid  of  honour ; 
she  was  genteel  and  gay,  but  not  pretty  nor  of  a  good 
figure.  This  son  was  called  the  Chevalier  d'Orleans. 
The  other,  who  is  now  a  lad  of  eighteen  years,  is  the 
Abbe  de  Saint  Albin  ;  he  had  this  child  by  Florence,  an 
opera  dancer,  of  a  very  neat  figure,  but  a  fool ;  although 
to  look  at  her  pretty  face  one  would  not  have  thought  so. 
She  is  since  dead.  The  third  of  my  son's  illegitimate 
children  is  a  girl  of  fourteen  years  old,  whom  he  had  by 
Desrnarets,  an  actress,  who  is  still  on  the  stage.  This 
child  has  been  educated  at  a  convent  at  Saint  Denis, 
but  has  not  much  inclination  for  a  monastic  life.  When 
my  son  sent  for  her  she  did  not  know  who  she  was. 

Desrnarets  wanted  to  lay  another  child  to  my  son's 
account;  but  he  replied,  "No,  that  child  is  too  much 
of  a  harlequin." 

I  N.  de  Seri  de  la  Boissiere ;  the  father  had  been  ambassador 
in  Holland.  IMademoiselle  de  Seri  was  the  Regent's  first  mistress ; 
he  gave  her  the  title  of  Countess  d'Argenton.  Her  son,  the 
Chevalier  d'Orleans,  was  Grand-Prieur  of  France. 


THE    REGENT    OF    FRANCE  I29 

When  someone  asked  him  what  he  meant,  he  said, 
— It  was  of  so  many  different  pieces,  and  therefore  he 
renounced  it. 

I  do  not  know  whether  the  mother  did  not  after- 
wards give  it  to  the  Elector  of  Bavaria,  who  had  some 
share  in  it,  and  who  sacrificed  to  her  the  most  beautiful 
snuff-box  that  ever  was  seen ;  it  was  covered  with  large 
diamonds. 

My  first  son  was  called  the  Duke  de  Valois  ^ ;  but  as 
this  name  was  one  of  evil  omen^  Monsieur  would  not 
suffer  my  other  son  to  be  called  so  ;  he  took,  therefore, 
the  title  of  Duke  de  Chartres.  After  Monsieur's  death 
my  son  took  the  name  of  Orleans,  and  his  son  that  of 
Chartres. 

My  son  is  too  much  prejudiced  in  favour  of  his 
nation ;  and  although  he  sees  daily  that  his  countrymen 
are  false  and  treacherous,  he  believes  there  is  no  nation 
comparable  to  them.  He  is  not  very  lavish  of  his 
praise ;  and  when  he  does  approve  of  anything  his 
sincerity  gives  it  an  additional  value. 

As  he  is  now  in  his  forty-second  year  the  people 
of  Paris  do  not  forgive  him  for  running  about  at  balls, 
like  a  young  fool,  for  the  amusement  of  women,  when 
he  has  the  cares  of  the  kingdom  upon  his  shoulders. 
When  the  late  King  ascended  the  throne  he  had  reason 
to  take  his  diversion ;  it  is  not  so  now.  Night  and 
day   it   is   necessary  to   labour   in    order   to   repair  the 


1  Alexandre-Louis  d'Orleans.  Duke  de  Valois,  died  an  infant  on 
the  i6th  March,  1676;  the  Regent  was  born  on  the  4th  of  August, 
1674. 

2  It  is  unnecessary  to  mention  the  unhappy  ends  of  Henri  III. 
and  of  the  three  Kings,  his  sons,  who  all  died  without  issue. 


130  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

mischief  which  the  late  King,  or  rather  his  ministers, 
did  to  the  country. 

When  my  son  gently  reproached  that  old  Maintenon 
for  having  maligned  him,  and  asked  her  to  put  her  hand 
upon  her  heart,  and  say  whether  her  calumnies  were 
true,  she  replied,  "  I  said  it  because  I  believed  it." 

My  son  repHed,  "  You  could  not  believe  it,  because 
you  knew  the  contrary." 

She  said  arrogantly,  and  yet  my  son  kept  his 
temper,  "  Is  not  the  Dauphine  dead  ?  " 

**  Is  it  my  fault,"  he  rejoined,  •'  that  she  is  dead  ? 
Was  she  immortal  ?  " 

"  Well,"  she  replied,  **  I  was  so  much  distressed  at 
tlie  loss  that  I  could  not  help  detesting  him  whom  I  was 
told  was  the  cause  of  it." 

"But,  Madame,"  said  my  son,  "you  know,  from 
the  report  which  has  been  made  to  the  King,  that  I  was 
not  the  cause,  and  that  the  Dauphine  was  not  poisoned." 

"  I  do  know  it,"  she  replied,  "  and  I  will  say  nothing 
more  about  it." 


SECT.   X. 

THE    AFFAIRS    OF   THE    REGENCY. 

The  old  Maintenon  wished  to  have  the  Duke 
du  Maine  made  Regent ;  but  my  son's  harangue  to  the 
Parliament  frustrated  her  intention. 

He  was  very  angry  with  Lord  Stair  because  he 
believed  that  he  had  done  him  an  ill  office  with  the 
King  of  England,  and  prevented  the  latter  from  entering 
into  the  alliance  with  France  and  Holland.  If  that 
alliance  had  taken  place  my  son  could  have  prevented 
the  Pretender  from  beginning  his  journey ;  but  as 
England  refused  to  do  so  the  Regent  was  obliged  to  do 
nothing  but  what  was  stipulated  for  by  the  treaty  of 
peace ;  that  is  to  say,  not  to  succour  the  Pretender  with 
money  nor  arms,  which  he  faithfully  performed.  He 
sent  wherever  Lord  Stair  requested.^  He  believed  that 
the  English  people  would  not  be  well  pleased  to  see  their 
King  allied  to  the  Crown  of  France. 

I  The  Duke  of  Orleans  ordered,  in  Lord  Stair's  presence, 
Contades,  Major  of  the  Guard,  to  arrest  the  Pretender  on  his  passage 
through  Chateau-Thierry ;  but,  adds  Duclos,  Contades  was  an 
intelligent  man,  and  well  acquainted  with  the  Regent's  secret 
intentions,  and  so  he  set  out  resolved  not  to  find  what  he  went  in 
search  of. 


9—2 


132  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

I717. 

The  Baron  Goertz  thought  to  entrap  my  son,  who, 
however,  did  not  trust  him  ;  he  would  not  permit  him  to 
purchase  a  single  ship,  and  it  was  upon  this  that  the 
Baron  had  built  all  his  hopes  of  success. 

That  tall  Goertz,  whom  I  have  seen,  has  an  unlucky 
physiognomy ;  I  do  not  believe  that  he  will  die  a  fair 
death.i 

The  Memoir  of  the  thirty  noblemen^  has  so  much 
angered  my  son  that  he  will  hasten  to  pronounce 
sentence. 


1718. 

The  whole  of  the  Parliament  was  influenced  against 
him.  He  made  a  remonstrance  against  this,  which  was 
certainly  effected  at  the  instigation  of  the  eldest  bastard 
and  his  wife.^  If  anyone  spoke  ill  of  my  son,  and  seemed 
dissatisfied,  the  Duchess  du  Maine  invited  them  to  Sceaux, 
and  pitied  and  caressed  them  to  hear  them   abuse  my 

1  Goertz  was  the  Swedish  minister,  and  had  been  sent  into 
Holland  and  France  to  favour  the  cause  of  the  Pretender.  He  was 
arrested  in  Holland  in  17 17,  and  remained  in  prison  for  several 
months.  He  was  a  very  cunning  person,  and  a  great  political 
intriguer.  On  the  death  of  Charles  XII.  he  was  taken  before  an 
extraordinary  tribunal,  and  condemned  in  an  unjust  and  arbitrary 
manner  to  he  beheaded,  which  sentence  was  executed  in  May,  1719. 

2  This  was  a  protest  by  several  noblemen  against  any  arret 
which  should  interfere  with  the  legitimated  Princes.  It  contended 
that  they  could  not  be  sentenced  but  by  the  States-General.— See 
Les  Pastes,  etc.,  de  Louis  XV.,  ly  Mai,  1717, 

3  The  Duke  and  Duchess  du  Maine. 


AFFAIRS    OF    THE    REGENCY  I33 

son.  I  wondered  at  his  patience.  He  has  great  courage, 
and  went  steadily  on  without  disturbing  himself  about 
anything.  Although  the  Parliament  of  Paris  sent  to  all 
the  other  parliaments  in  the  kingdom  to  solicit  them  to 
unite  with  it,  none  of  them  did  so,  but  all  remained 
faithful  to  my  son.  The  libels  which  were  dispersed  for 
the  purpose  of  exciting  the  people  against  him  had 
scarcely  any  effect.  I  believe  the  plot  would  have 
succeeded  better  if  the  bastard  and  his  wife  had  not 
engaged  in  it,  for  they  were  extraordinarily  hated  at 
Paris.  My  son  told  the  Parliament  they  had  nothing  to 
do  with  the  coinage  ^ ;  that  he  would  maintain  the  royal 
authority,  and  deliver  it  to  the  King  when  he  should  be 
of  age  in  the  same  state  as  he  had  found  it  on  his  becoming 
Regent. 

The  Marshal  d'Uxelles  hated  my  son  mortally  ; 
but  after  the  King's  death  he  played  the  fawning  dog 
so  completely  that  my  son  forgave  him  and  took  him 
into  favour  again.  In  the  latter  aftair  he  was  disposed 
once  more  to  follow  his  natural  inclination,  but  my 
son  having  little  value  for  whatever  he  could  do,  said, 
"  Well,  if  he  will  not  sign  he  may  let  it  alone." 

When  the  Marshal  saw  my  son  was  serious  and 
did  not  care  at  all  for  his  bravadoes,  he  became  sub- 
missive and  did  what  my  son  desired. 

I  The  Parliament  had  made  a  remonstrance  against  an  edict 
of  May,  1718,  ordering  a  new  coinage,  and  increasing  the  value  of 
the  currency.  This  edict  was  registered  by  the  Mint.  The  decree 
of  the  Parliament  which  suspended  the  execution  of  the  edict,  and 
ordered  a  remonstrance  to  be  made,  was  granted  by  the  decree  of  a 
council  at  which  the  Regent  presided.  The  Parliament  made  a  fresh 
remonstrance,  until  silence  was  imposed  upon  it  by  a  bed  of  justice, 
held  at  the  Tuileries  on  the  26th  of  August. 


134  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

The  wife  of  the  cripple,  the  Duchess  du  Maine, 
resolved  to  have  an  explanation  with  my  son.  She 
made  a  sententious  speech,  just  as  if  she  had  been  on 
the  stage  ;  she  asked  how  he  could  think  that  the 
answer  to  Fitz  Morris's  book^  should  have  proceeded 
from  her,  or  that  a  Princess  of  the  blood  would  degrade 
herself  by  composing  Hbels  ?  She  told  him,  too,  that 
the  Cardinal  de  Polignac  was  engaged  in  affairs  of  too 
much  importance  to  busy  himself  in  trifles  like  this, 
and  that  M.  de  Malezieux  was  too  much  a  philosopher 
to  think  of  anything  but  the  sciences.  For  her  own 
part  she  said  she  had  sufficient  employment  in  educating 
her  children  as  became  that  royal  dignity  of  which  she 
had  been  wrongfully  deprived.  My  son  only  replied 
to  her  thus  : — 

"  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  these  libels  have 
been  got  up  at  your  house,  and  by  you,  because  that 
fact  has  been  attested  by  persons  who  have  been  in 
your   service,   and   who   have   seen    them   in   progress  ; 

1  Lettres  de  Filtz-Moritz  sur  les  Affaires  du  Terns  (ecrites  en  1716 
et  1717^,  Rotterdam,  Leere,  Rouen,  et  Paris;  1718,  i2mo.  This  work 
was  composed  by  the  Abbe  Margon,  at  the  direction  of  the  Duke 
d'Orleans,  the  Regent.  It  is  supposed  to  contain  two  conversations 
between  Fitz-Morris  and  other  persons  respecting  the  succession 
to  the  crown  of  France,  in  the  event  of  the  death  of  Louis  XV. 
The  claim  of  PhiHp  V.  of  Spain  is  there  supported  by  a  Jesuit 
among  other  persons  ;  but  upon  grounds  so  weak  that  all  the 
advantage  of  the  dispute  lies  on  the  side  of  the  Duke  of  Orleans. 
The  book  contains  also  some  curious  anecdotes  respecting  the 
Court  of  Spain.  The  answer  spoken  of  above  was  entitled, 
Conference  d'un  Anglais  et  d'un  Alkmand  sur  les  Lettres  de  Filtz-Moritz ; 
Camhray,  1722,  i2wo. — and  was  written  by  the  Abbe  Brigand,  who, 
as  Madame  says  further  on,  was  in  the  pay  of  the  Duchess  du 
Maine. 


AFFAIRS    OF    THE    REGENCY  I35 

beyond  this  no  one  makes  me  believe  or  disbelieve  any- 
thing." 

He  made  no  reply  to  her  last  observation,  and  so  she 
went  away.  She  afterwards  boasted  everywhere  of  the 
firmness  with  which  she  had  spoken  to  my  son. 

My  son  this  day  (26th  of  August)  assembled  the 
Council  of  the  Regency.  He  had  summoned  the  Parlia- 
ment by  a  lettre-de-cachet :  they  repaired  to  the  Tuileries 
in  a  procession  on  foot,  dressed  in  scarlet  robes,  hoping 
by  this  display  to  excite  the  people  in  their  favour ;  but 
the  mob  only  called  out,  "  Where  are  these  lobsters 
going  ?  "  The  King  had  caused  the  Keeper  of  the  Seals 
to  make  a  remonstrance  to  the  Parliament  for  having 
infringed  upon  his  authority  in  publishing  decrees  without 
his  sanction.  He  commanded  them  to  quash  the  decree, 
which  was  done ;  and  to  confirm  the  authority  of  the 
Keeper  of  the  Seals,  which  they  did  also.  He  then 
ordered  them  with  some  sternness  not  to  interfere  with 
the  affairs  of  the  Government  beyond  their  province;  and 
as  the  Duke  du  Maine  had  excited  the  Parliament  against 
the  King,  he  was  deprived  of  the  care  of  his  Majesty's 
education,  and  he  with  his  brothers  were  degraded  from 
the  rank  of  Princes  of  the  blood,  which  had  been  granted 
to  them.  They  will  in  future  have  no  other  rank  than 
that  of  their  respective  peerages ;  but  the  Duke  du  Maine 
alone,  for  the  fidelity  he  has  always  manifested  towards 
the  King,  will  retain  his  rank  for  his  life,  although  his 
issue,  if  he  should  have  any,  will  not  inherit  it. 

Madame  d'Orleans  was  in  the  greatest  despair,  and 
came  to  Paris  in  such  a  condition  as  moved  my  pity  for 
her.  Madame  du  Maine  is  reported  to  have  said,  three 
weeks  ago,  at  a  grand  dinner,  "  I  am  accused  of  having 


136  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

caused  the  Parliament  to  revolt  against  the  Duke  of 
Orleans,  but  I  despise  him  too  much  to  take  so  noble  a 
vengeance ;  I  will  be  revenged  in  another  manner." 

The  Parliament  had  very  notable  projects  in  hand. 
If  my  son  had  delayed  four-and-twenty  hours  longer  in 
removing  the  Duke  du  Maine  from  the  King  it  would 
have  been  decided  to  declare  His  Majesty  of  full  age  ; 
but  my  son  frustrated  this  by  dismissing  the  Duke,  and 
degrading  him  at  the  same  time.  The  Chief  President^  is 
said  to  have  been  so  frightened  that  he  remained  motion- 
less, as  if  he  had  been  petrified  by  a  gaze  at  the  head  of 
Medusa.  That  celebrated  personage  of  antiquity  could 
not  have  been  more  a  fury  than  Madame  du  Maine ;  she 
threatened  dreadfully,  and  did  not  scruple  to  say  in  the 
presence  of  her  household,  that  she  would  yet  find  means 
to  give  the  Regent  such  a  blow  as  should  make  him  bite 
the  dust.  That  old  Maintenon  and  her  pupil  have  also 
had  a  finger  in  the  pie. 

The  Parliament  asked  pardon  of  my  son,  which 
proves  that  the  Duke  and  Duchess  du  Maine  were  the 
mainsprings  of  the  plot. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  old  woman  and 
the  former  Chancellor^  were  also  implicated  in  it.  The 
Chancellor,  who  would  have  betrayed  my  son  in  so 
shameful  a  manner,  was  under  the  heaviest  obligations 
to  him.  What  has  happened  is  a  great  mortification 
to  Maintenon,  and  yet  she  has  not  given  up  all  hopes. 
This  makes  me  very  anxious,  for  I  know  how  expertly 
she   can    manage    poison.      My   son,    instead   of  being 

1  Jeane-Antoine  de  Mesmes,  Comte  d'Avaux,  Premier  President 
of  the  Parliament  of  Paris  from  171 2  to  1723. 

2  The  Chancellor  Voisin. 


AFFAIRS    OF   THE    REGENCY  137 

cautious,  goes  about  the  town  at  night  in  strange 
carriages,  sometimes  supping  with  one  or  another  of 
his  people,  none  of  whom  is  worthy  of  being  trusted, 
and  who,  excepting  their  wit,  have  not  one  good  quahty. 

Different  reports  respecting  the  Duchess  du  Maine 
are  abroad ;  some  say  she  has  beaten  her  husband  and 
broken  the  glasses  and  everything  brittle  in  her  room. 
Others  say  she  has  not  spoken  a  word,  and  has  done 
nothing  but  weep.  The  Duke  de  Bourbon  has  under- 
taken the  King's  education.  He  said  that  not  being 
himself  of  age  he  did  not  demand  this  office  before,  but 
that  being  so  now  he  should  soHcit  it,  and  it  was 
immediately  given  to  him. 

One  president^  and  two  counsellors  have  been 
arrested.  Before  the  close  of  the  session,  the  ParHa- 
ment  implored  my  son  to  use  his  good  offices  with  the 
King  for  the  release  of  their  members,  and  promised 
that  they  should,  if  found  culpable,  be  punished  by  the 
ParHament  itself.  My  son  repHed  that  they  could  not 
doubt  he  should  always  advise  the  King  to  the  most 
lenient  measures  ;  that  His  Majesty  would  not  only  be 
gracious  to  them  as  a  body,  while  they  merited  it,  but 
also  to  each  individual ;  that  as  to  the  prisoners,  they 
would  in  good  time  be  released. 

That  old  Maintenon  has  fallen  sick  of  grief  that  her 
project  for  the  Duke  du  Maine  has  miscarried. 

The  Duke  and  the  ParHament  had  resolved  to  have 
a  bed  of  justice  held,  where  my  son  should  be  dismissed, 
and  the  Regency  be  committed  to  the  Duke,  while  at 
the   same  time  the  King's  household   should   be   under 

I  The  President  de  Blamont. 


138  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

arms.  The  Duke  and  the  Prince  de  Conti  had  long 
been  urging  my  son  without  knowing  all  the  particulars. 
The  Duke  du  Maine  has  not  been  banished  to  the 
country,  but  has  permission  to  go  with  his  family 
wherever  he  pleases ;  he  will  not,  however,  remain  at 
Paris  because  he  no  longer  enjoys  his  rank  ;  he  chooses 
rather  to  live  at  Sceaux,  where  he  has  an  elegant 
mansion  and  a  fine  park. 

That  little  dwarf  (the  Duchess  du  Maine)  says  she 
has  more  courage  than  her  husband,  her  son,  and  her 
brother-in-law  put  together ;  and  that,  like  another  Jael, 
she  would  kill  my  son  with  her  own  hand,  and  would 
drive  a  nail  into  his  head.  When  I  implored  my  son 
to  be  on  his  guard  against  her,  and  told  him  this,  he 
laughed  at  my  fears  and  shook  his  head  incredulously. 

I  do  not  believe  that  the  Devil,  in  his  own  person,  is 
more  wicked  than  that  old  Maintenon,  her  Duke  du 
Maine,  and  the  Duchess.  The  latter  said  openly  that 
her  husband  and  her  brother-in-law  were  no  better  than 
cowards ;  that,  woman  as  she  was,  she  was  ready  to 
demand  an  audience  of  my  son  and  to  plunge  a  dagger 
in  his  heart.  Let  any  one  judge  whether  I  have  not 
reason  to  fear  such  persons,  and  particularly  when  they 
have  so  strong  a  party.  Their  cabal  is  very  consider- 
able ;  there  are  a  dozen  persons  of  consideration,  all 
great  noblemen  at  Court.  The  richest  part  of  the  people 
favour  the  Spanish  pretensions,  as  well  as  the  Duke 
and  Duchess  du  Maine;  they  wish  to  call  in  the  King  of 
Spain.  My  brother  has  too  much  sense  for  them ;  they 
want  a  person  who  will  suffer  himself  to  be  led  as  they 
please ;  the  King  of  Spain  is  their  man ;  and,  for  this 
reason,  they  are  trying  all  means  to  induce  him  to  come. 


AFFAIRS    OF    THE    REGENCY  13g 

It  is  for  these  reasons  that  I  think  my  son  is  in  so  great 
danger. 

My  son  has  not  yet  released  the  three  rogues  of  the 
ParHament,  although  their  Hberation  has  been  twice 
petitioned  for. 

The  Duke  du  Maine  and  the  cabal  have  made  his 
sister  believe  that  if  my  son  should  die  they  would  make 
her  Regent,  and  would  aid  her  with  their  counsel  to 
enable  her  to  become  one  of  the  greatest  persons  in  the 
world.  They  say  they  mean  no  violence  towards  my 
son,  who  cannot  live  long  on  account  of  his  irregularities; 
that  he  must  soon  die  or  lose  his  sight ;  and  in  the  latter 
event  he  would  consent  to  her  becoming  Regent.  I 
know  a  person  to  whom  the  Duke  du  Maine  said  so. 
This  put  an  end  to  one's  astonishment,  that  she  should 
have  wished  to  force  her  daughter  to  marry  the  Duke 
du  Maine. 

All  this  gave  me  great  anxiety  :  I  foresaw  it  all,  and 
said  to  my  son,  "  You  are  committing  a  folly,  for  which  I 
shall  have  to  suffer  all  my  life." 

He  has  made  great  changes;  instead  of  a  great 
number  of  Councils  he  has  appointed  Secretaries  of 
State.  M.  d'Armenouville  is  Secretary  of  State  for  the 
Navy  ;  M.  le  Blanc,  for  the  Army;  M.  de  la  Vrilliere,  for 
the  Home  Department ;  the  Abbe  Dubois,  for  Foreign 
Affairs;  M.  de  Maurepas,  for  the  Royal  Household  ;  and 
a  Bishop  for  the  Church  Benefices. 

Malezieux  and  the  Cardinal  de  Polignac  had  pro- 
bably as  great  a  share  in  the  answer  to  Fitz  Morris  as 
the  Duchess  du  Maine. 

The  Duke  of  Bourbon  and  the  Prince  of  Conti 
assisted   very   zealously   in   the   disgrace   of    the    Duke 


140  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

du  Maine.  My  son  could  not  bring  himself  to  resolve 
upon  it  until  the  treachery  had  been  clearly  demonstrated 
to  him,  and  he  saw  that  he  should  lend  himself  to  his  own 
dishonour  if  he  did  not  prevent  the  blow. 

My  son  is  very  fond  of  the  Count  de  Toulouse,  whom 
he  finds  a  sensible  person  on  all  occasions  :  if  the  latter 
had  followed  the  advice  of  the  Duke  du  Maine  he  would 
have  shared  his  fate;  but  he  despised  his  brother's 
advice  and  followed  that  of  his  wife. 

My  son  believes  as  firmly  in  predestination  as  if  he 
had  been,  like  me,  a  Calvinist,  for  nineteen  years.  I  do 
not  know  how  he  learnt  the  affair  of  the  Duke  du  Maine ; 
he  has  always  kept  it  a  great  secret.^  But  what  appears 
the  most  singular  to  me  is  that  he  does  not  hate  his 
brother-in-law,  who  has  endeavoured  to  procure  his  death 
and  dishonour.  I  do  not  believe  his  like  was  ever  seen : 
he  has  no  gall  in  his  composition  ;  I  never  knew  him  to 
hate  anyone. 

He  says  he  will  take  as  much  care  as  he  can  ;  but 
that  if  God  has  ordained  that  he  shall  perish  by  the 
hands  of  his  enemies  he  cannot  change  his  destiny,  and 
that  therefore  he  shall  go  on  tranquilly. 

He  has  earnestly  requested  Lord  Stair  to  speak  to 
the  King  of  England  on  your  account.^  He  say  no  one 
can  be  more  desirous  than  he  is  that  you  should  be  rein- 
stated in  your  father's  affection,  and  that  he  will  neglect 

1  This  great  secret  is  one  no  longer.  It  is  said  that  the  Abbe 
Dubois  learned  what  was  going  on  from  La  Fillon,  who  kept  a  house 
of  a  certain  description,  and  in  which  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the 
Prince  of  Cellamara  had  said  something  of  his  master's  important 
despatches.  [Upon  this  event  is  founded  the  interesting  story  of 
Ninette,  in  the  Hermit  in  Prison,  by  MM.  Jay  and  Jouy. — T.] 

2  This  passage  is  addressed  to  the  Princess  of  Wales. 


AFFAIRS    OF    THE    REGENCY  IJ.1 

no  opportunity  of  bringing  it  about,  being  persuaded  that 
it  is  to  the  advantage  of  the  King  of  England,  as  well  as 
of  yourself,  that  you  should  be  reconciled. 

M.  Law  must  be  praised  for  his  talent,  but  there  is 
an  astonishing  number  of  persons  who  envy  him  in  this 
country.  My  son  is  dehghted  with  his  cleverness  in 
business. 

He  has  been  compelled  to  arrest  the  Spanish 
Ambassador,  the  Prince  of  Cellamara,  because  letters 
were  found  upon  his  courier,  the  Abbe  Porto  Carero, 
who  was  his  nephew,  and  who  has  also  been  arrested, 
containing  evidence  of  a  plot  against  the  King  and 
against  my  son.  The  Ambassador  was  arrested  by  two 
Counsellors  of  State.  It  was  time  that  his  treachery 
should  be  made  public.  A  valet  of  the  Abbe  Porto 
Carero  having  a  bad  horse,  and  not  being  able  to  get 
on  so  quick  as  his  master,  stayed  two  relays  behind,  and 
met  on  his  way  the  ordinary  courier  from  Poitiers.  The 
valet  asked  him,  "  What  news  ?  " 

"I  don't  know  any,"  repHed  the  postillion,  "except 
that  they  have  arrested  at  Poitiers  an  English  bankrupt 
and  a  Spanish  Abbe  who  was  carrying  a  packet." 

When  the  valet  heard  this  he  instantly  took  a  fresh 
horse,  and  instead  of  following  his  master  he  came  back 
full  gallop  to  Paris.  So  great  was  his  speed,  that  he  fell 
sick  upon  his  arrival  in  consequence  of  the  exertion. 
He  outstripped  my  son's  courier  by  twelve  hours,  and  so 
had  time  to  apprise  the  Prince  of  Cellamara  twelve  hours 
before  his  arrest,  which  gave  him  time  to  burn  his  most 
important  letters  and  papers.  My  son's  enemies  pretend 
to  treat  this  affair  as  insignificant  to  the  last  degree  ;  but 
I  cannot  see  anything  insignificant  in  an  ambassador's 


142  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

attempting  to  cause  a  revolt  in  a  whole  kingdom,  and 
among  the  Parliament  against  my  son,  and  meditating 
his  assassination  as  well  as  that  of  his  son  and  daughter, 
I  alone  was  to  have  been  let  live. 

That  Des  Ursins  must  have  the  devil  in  her  to  have 
stirred  up  Pompadour  against  my  son.  He  is  not  any 
very  great  personage ;  but  his  wife  is  a  daughter  of  the 
Duke  de  Navailles,  who  was  my  son's  governor.  Madame 
de  Pompadour  was  the  governess  of  the  young  Duke 
d'Alen9on,  the  son  of  Madame  de  Berri.  As  to  the 
Abbe  Brigaut,^  I  know  him  very  well.  Madame  de 
Ventadour  was  his  godmother,  and  he  was  baptized  at 
the  same  time  with  the  first  Dauphin,  when  he  received 
the  name  of  Tillio.  He  has  talent,  but  he  is  an  intriguer 
and  a  knave.  He  pretended  at  first  to  be  very  devout, 
and  was  appointed  Pere  de  I'Oratoire  ;  but  getting  tired 
of  this  life  he  took  up  the  trade  of  catering  for  the  vices 
of  the  Court,  and  afterwards  became  the  secretary  and 
factotum  of  Madame  du  Maine,  for  whom  he  used  to 
assist  in  all  the  libels  and  pasquinades  which  were 
written  against  my  son.  It  would  be  difficult  to  say 
which  prated  most,  he  or  Pompadour. 

Madame  d'Orleans  has  great  influence  over  my  son. 
He  loves  all  his  children,  but  particularly  his  eldest 
daughter.  While  still  a  child  she  fell  dangerously  ill, 
and  was  given  over  by  her  physicians.  My  son  was  in 
deep  affliction  at  this,  and  resolved  to  attempt  her  cure 
by  treating  her  in  his  own  way,  which  succeeded  so  well 


I  Arrested  at  Montargis,  and  conducted  to  the  Bastille.  This 
abb6  relied  upon  certain  papers,  which  he  had  left  in  the  hands  of 
the  Chevalier  de  Menil ;  but  the  latter  had  taken  care  to  burn  them. 


AFFAIRS    OF   THE    REGENCY  I43 

that  he  saved  her  Hfe,  and  from  that  moment  has  loved 
her  better  than  all  his  other  children. 


The  Abb6  Dubois  has  an  insinuating  manner  towards 
everyone ;  but  more  particularly  towards  those  of  whom 
he  had  the  care  in  their  childhood. 

Two  Germans  were  implicated  in  the  conspiracy  ; 
but  I  am  only  surprised  at  one  of  them,  the  Brigadier 
Sandrazky,  who  was  with  me  daily,  and  in  whose  behalf 
I  have  often  spoken,  because  his  father  served  my  brother 
as  commandant  at  Frankendahl :  he  died  in  the  present 
year.  The  other  is  the  Count  Schlieben,  who  has  only 
one  arm.  I  am  not  astonished  at  him ;  for,  in  the  first 
place,  I  know  how  he  lost  his  arm ;  and  in  the  second, 
he  is  a  friend  and  servant  of  the  Princess  des  Ursins : 
they  expect  to  take  him  at  Lyons.  Sandrazky  was  at 
my  toilette  the  day  before  yesterday  ;  as  he  looked 
melancholy,  I  asked  him  what  was  the  matter  ?  He 
replied,  "  I  am  ill  with  vexation  :  I  love  my  wife,  who 
is  an  Englishwoman,  very  tenderly,  and  she  is  no  less 
fond  of  me ;  but  as  we  have  not  the  means  of  keeping 
up  an  estabHshment  she  must  go  into  a  convent.  This 
distresses  me  so  much  that  I  am  really  very  unwell." 

I  was  grieved  to  hear  this,  and  resolved  to  solicit  my 
son  for  him. 

My  son  sometimes  does  as  is  said  in  Atys,^  "  Vous 
pourriez  aimer  et  descendre  moms  has"  ;  for  when  Jolis  was 
his  rival,  he  became  attached  to  one  of  his  daughter's 
ßlles  de  chambre,  who  hoped  to  marry  Jolis  because  he 

I  The  opera  of  Atys,  act  ii.,  scene  3. 


144  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

was  rich ;  for  this  reason  she  received  him  better  than 
my  son,  who,  however,  at  last  gained  her  favour.  He 
afterwards  took  her  away  from  his  daughter,  and  had  her 
taught  to  sing,  for  she  had  a  fine  voice. 

The  printed  letters  of  Cellamara  disclose  the  whole 
of  the  conspiracy.  The  Abbe  Brigaut,  too,  it  is  said, 
begins  to  chatter  about  it.  This  affair  has  given  me  so 
much  anxiety  that  I  only  sleep  through  mere  exhaustion. 
My  heart  beats  incessantly;  but  my  son  has  not  the 
least  care  about  it.  I  beseech  him,  for  God's  sake,  not 
to  go  about  in  coaches  at  night,  and  he  promises  me  he 
will  not ;  but  he  will  no  more  keep  that  promise  than 
he  did  when  he  made  it  to  me  before. 

It  is  now  eight  days  ago  since  the  Duke  du  Maine 
and  his  wife  were  arrested  (29th  December).  She  was  at 
Paris,  and  her  husband  at  Sceaux  in  his  chateau.  One 
of  the  four  captains  of  the  King's  Guard  arrested  the 
Duchess,  the  Duke  was  arrested  only  by  a  lieutenant  of 
the  Body  Guard.  The  Duchess  was  immediately  taken 
to  Dijon  and  her  husband  to  the  fortress  of  Dourlens. 
I  found  Madame  d'Orleans  much  more  calm  than  I  had 
expected.  She  was  much  grieved,  and  wept  bitterly ; 
but  she  said  that  since  her  brother  was  convicted,  she 
must  confess  he  had  done  wrong ;  that  he  was,  with  his 
wife,  the  cause  of  his  own  misfortune,  but  that  it  was  no 
less  painful  to  her  to  know  that  her  own  brother  had  thus 
been  plotting  against  her  husband.  His  guilt  was  proved 
upon  three  points  :  first,  in  a  paper  under  the  hand  of 
the  Spanish  Ambassador,  the  Prince  of  Cellamara,  in 
which  he  imparted  to  Alberoni  that  the  Duchess  and  the 
Duke  du  Maine  were  at  the  head  of  the  conspiracy ;  he 
tells  him  how  many  times  he  has  seen  them,  by  whose 


AFFAIRS    OF    THE    REGENCY  I45 

means,  and  in  what  place :  then  he  says  that  he  has 
given  money  to  the  Duke  du  Maine  to  bribe  certain 
persons,  and  he  mentions  the  sum.  There  are  already 
two  men  in  the  Bastille  who  confess  to  have  received 
money,  and  others  who  have  voluntarily  stated  that  they 
conducted  the  Ambassador  to  the  Duke  and  Duchess, 
and  negotiated  everything  between  the  parties.  The 
greater  part  of  their  servants  have  been  sent  to  the 
Bastille.  The  Princess  is  deeply  afflicted  ;  and  although 
the  clearest  proofs  are  given  her  of  her  children's  crime, 
she  throws  all  the  blame  upon  the  Duke,  her  grandson, 
who,  she  says,  has  accused  them  falsely  because  he  hates 
them,  and  she  has  refused  to  see  him.  The  Duchess  is 
more  moderate  in  her  grief.  The  little  Princess  of  Conti 
heartily  pities  her  sister  and  weeps  copiously,  but  the 
elder  Princess  does  not  trouble  herself  about  her  uncle 
and  aunt. 

The  Cardinals  cannot  be  arrested,  but  they  may 
be  exiled ;  therefore  the  Cardinal  de  Pohgnac  has  been 
ordered  to  retire  to  one  of  his  abbeys  and  to  remain  there. 
It  was  love  that  turned  his  head.  He  was  formerly  a 
great  friend  of  my  son's,  and  he  did  not  change  until  he 
became  attached  to  that  little  hussy. 

Magni^  has  not  yet  been  taken  ;  he  flies  from  one 
convent  to  another.  He  stayed  with  the  Jesuits  a  long 
time. 

I  Fuucault  de  Magni,  introdiideur  des  amhassadeurs,  and  son  of  a 
Counsellor  of  State.  Duclos  says  he  was  a  silly  fellow,  who  never 
did  but  one  wise  thing,  which  was  to  run  away. 


10 


I4Ö  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 


I719. 


They  say  that  the  Duchess  du  Maine  used  all  her 
persuasions  to  induce  her  husband  to  fly  ;  but  that  he 
replied  as  neither  of  them  had  written  anything  with 
their  own  hands  nothing  could  be  proved  against  them  ; 
while,  by  flying,  they  would  confess  their  guilt.  They 
did  not  consider  that  M.  de  Pompadour  could  say  enough 
to  cause  their  arrest. 

The  Duchess's  fraternal  affection  is  a  much  stronger 
passion  than  her  love  for  her  children. 

A  letter  of  Alberoni's  to  the  lame  bastard  has  been 
intercepted,  in  which  is  the  following  passage: — "As 
soon  as  you  declare  war  in  France  spring  all  your  mines 
at  once." 

"What  enrages  me  is  that  Madame  d'Orleans  and 
the  Princess  would  still  make  one  believe  that  the 
Duke  and  Duchess  du  Maine  are  totally  innocent, 
although  proofs  of  their  guilt  are  daily  appearing.  The 
Duchess  came  to  me  to  beg  I  would  procure  an  order 
for  her  daughter's  people,  that  is  her  dames  d'honneur, 
her  femmes  de  chambre,  and  her  hair-dresser,  to  be  sent 
to  her.  I  could  not  help  laughing,  and  I  said : — 
"  Mademoiselle  de  Launay  is  an  intriguer  and  one 
of  the  persons  by  whom  the  whole  affair  was  con- 
ducted." 

But  she  repHed,  "The  Princess  is  at  the  Bastille." 
"  I  know  it,"  I  said;  "and  well  she  has  deserved  it." 
This  almost  offended  the  Princess. 


AFFAIRS   OF   THE    REGENCY  I47 

The  Duchess  du  Maine  said  openly  that  she  should 
never  be  happy  until  she  had  made  an  end  of  my  son. 
When  her  mother  reproached  her  with  it,  she  did  not 
deny  it,  but  only  repHed,  "  One  says  things  in  a  passion 
which  one  does  not  mean  to  do." 

Although  the  plot  has  been  discovered,  the  con- 
spirators have  not  yet  been  all  taken.  My  son  says 
jokingly,  "  I  have  hold  of  the  monster's  head  and  tail,  but 
I  have  not  yet  got  his  body." 

I  can  guess  how  it  happened  that  the  mercantile 
letters  stated  my  son  to  have  been  arrested ;  it  is  be- 
cause the  conspirators  intended  to  have  done  so,  and 
two  days  later  it  would  have  taken  place.  It  must 
have  been  persons  of  this  party,  therefore,  who  wrote  to 
England. 

When  Schlieben  was  seized,  he  said,  "  If  Monsieur 
the  Regent  does  not  take  pity  upon  me,  I  am 
ruined." 

He  was  for  a  long  time  at  the  Spanish  Court,  where 
he  was  protected  by  the  Princess  des  Ursins.  He  has 
some  wit,  can  chatter  well,  and  is  an  excellent  spy  for 
such  a  lady.  The  persons  who  had  arrested  him  took 
him  to  Paris  by  the  diligence,  without  saying  a  word. 
On  reaching  Paris  the  diligence  was  ordered  to  the 
Bastille ;  the  poor  travellers  not  knowing  why,  were  in 
a  great  fright,  and  expected  all  to  be  locked  up,  but  were 
not  a  little  pleased  at  being  set  free.  Sandrazky  is  not 
very  clever  ;  he  is  a  Silesian.  He  married  an  English- 
woman, whose  fortune  he  soon  dissipated,  for  he  is 
a  great  gambler. 

The  Duchess  du  Maine  has  fallen  sick  with  rage, 
and  that  old  Maintenon  is  said  to  be  afflicted  by  the 

10 — 2 


1^8  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

affair  more  than  any  other  person.  It  was  by  her 
fault  that  they  fell  into  this  scrape,  for  she  put  it  into 
their  heads  that  it  was  unjust  they  should  not  reign,  and 
that  the  kingdom  belonged  as  much  to  them  as  King 
Solomon's  did  to  him. 

Madame  d'Orleans  weeps  for  her  brother  by  day  and 
night. 

They  tried  to  arrest  the  Duke  de  Saint  Aignan 
at  Pampeluna  ;  but  he  effected  his  escape  with  his 
wife,  and  in  disguise. 

When  they  carried  away  the  Duke  du  Maine,  he 
said,  "  I  shall  soon  return,  for  my  innocence  will  be 
speedily  manifested  ;  but  I  only  speak  for  myself,  my 
wife  may  not  come  back  quite  so  soon." 

Madame  d'Orleans  cannot  believe  that  her  brother 
has  been  engaged  in  a  conspiracy ;  she  says  it  must  have 
been  his  wife  who  acted  in  his  name.  The  Princess,  on 
the  other  hand,  believes  that  her  daughter  is  innocent, 
and  that  the  Duke  du  Maine  alone  has  carried  on  the 
plot. 

The  factum  is  not  badly  drawn  up.  Our  priest  can 
write  well  enough  when  he  likes ;  he  drew  it  up,  and  my 
son  corrected  it. 

The  more  the  affair  is  examined,  the  more  clearly 
does  the  guilt  of  the  Duke  and  Duchess  appear;  for 
three  days  ago,  Malezieux,  who  is  in  the  Bastille,  gave 
up  his  writing-desk.  The  first  thing  that  was  found  in 
it  was  a  projet,  which  Malezieux  had  written  at  the 
Duchess's  bed-side,  and  which  Cardinal  de  Polignac  had 
corrected  with  his  own  hand.  Malezieux  pretends  that 
it  is  a  Spanish  letter,  addressed  to  the  Duchess,  and  that 
he  had  translated  it  for  her,  with  the  assistance  of  the 


AFFAIRS    OF    THE    REGENCY  I4Q 

Cardinal  de  PoHgnac  ;  and  yet  the  letters  of  Alberoni 
to  the  Prince  de  Cellamara  refers  so  directly  to  this  projet 
that  it  is  easy  to  see  that  they  spring  from  the  same 
source. 

The  Duchess  du  Maine  has  made  the  Princess 
believe  that  the  Duke  (of  Bourbon)  was  the  cause  of 
all  this  business,  so  that  now  he  dare  not  appear  before 
the  latter,  although  he  has  always  behaved  with  great 
respect  and  friendship  towards  her;  while  the  Duke 
and  Duchess  du  Maine,  on  the  contrary,  have  been 
engaged  in  a  law-suit  against  her  for  five  years.  It  was 
not  until  after  the  Princess  had  inherited  the  property 
of  ^  Monsieur  de  Vendome,  that  this  worthy  couple 
insinuated  themselves  into  her  good  graces. 

The  Parliament  is  reconciled  to  my  son,  and  has 
pronounced  its  decree,  which  is  favourable  to  him,  and 
which  is  another  proof  that  the  Duke  du  Maine  had 
excited  it  against  him. 

The  Jesuits  have  probably  been  also  against  my 
son;  for  all  those  who  have  declared  against  the  Con- 
stitution cannot  be  friendly  to  him  :  they  have,  however, 
kept  so  quiet  that  nothing  can  be  brought  against  them! 
They  are  cunning  old  fellows. 

Madame  d'Orleans  begins  to  recover  her  spirits  and 
to  laugh  again,  particularly  since  I  learn  she  has  con- 
sulted the  Premier  President  and  other  persons,  to  know 
whether  upon  my  son's  death  she  would  become  the 
Regent.  They  told  her  that  could  not  be,  but  that  the 
office  would  fall  upon  the  Duke:  this  answer  is  said  to 
have  been  very  unpalatable  to  her. 

If  my  son  would  have  paid  a  price  high  enough  to 
the  Cardinal  de  Polignac,  he  would  have  betrayed  them 


IjO  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

all.  He  is  now  consoling  himself  in  his  Abbey  with 
translating  Lucretius.^ 

The  King  of  Spain's  manifesto,  instead  of  injuring 
my  son,  has  been  useful  to  him,  because  it  was  too 
violent  and  partial.  Alberoni  must  needs  be  a  brutal 
and  an  intemperate  person.  But  how  could  a  journeyman 
gardener  know  the  language  which  ought  to  be  addressed 
to  crowned  heads  ?  Several  thousand  copies  of  this 
manifesto  have  been  transmitted  to  Paris,  addressed  to 
all  the  persons  in  the  Court,  to  all  the  Bishops,  in  short, 
to  everybody ;  even  to  the  Parliament,  which  has  taken 
the  affair  up  very  properly,  from  Paris  to  Bordeaux,  as 
the  decree  shows.  I  thought  it  would  have  been  better 
to  burn  this  manifesto  in  the  post-ofiice  instead  of 
suffering  it  to  be  spread  about ;  but  my  son  said  they 
should  all  be  delivered,  for  the  express  purpose  of  dis- 
covering the  feelings  of  the  parties  to  whom  they  are 
addressed,  and  a  register  of  them  was  kept  at  the  post- 
office.  Those  who  were  honest  brought  them  of  their 
own  accord ;  the  others  kept  them,  and  they  are  marked, 
without  the  public  knowing  anything  about  it.  The 
manifesto  is  the  work  of  INIalezieux  and  the  Cardinal  de 
Polignac. 

A  pamphlet  has  been  cried  about  the  streets,  en- 
titled, "  Un  arret  contre  Ics  poitles  d'hideJ"  Upon  looking 
at  it,  however,  it  seems  to  be  a  decree  against  the 
Jesuits,  who  had  lost  a  cause  respecting  a  priory,  of 
which  they  had  taken  possession.  Everybody  bought 
it,  except  the  partisans  of  the  Constitution  and  of  the 
Spanish  faction. 

I  The  Cardinal  was  finishing  his  elegant  poem  the  Anti- 
Lucretius. 


AFFAIRS    OF   THE    REGEN'CY  I51 

]\Iy  son  is  more  fond  of  his  daughters,  legitimate  and 
illegitimate,  than  his  son. 

The  Duke  and  Duchess  du  Maine  rely  upon  nothing 
having  been  found  in  their  writing ;  but  Mademoiselle  de 
Montauban  and  Malezieux  have  written  in  their  name; 
and  is  not  what  Pompadour  has  acknowledged  voluntarily 
quite  as  satisfactory  a  proof  as  even  their  own  writing  ? 

They  have  got  the  pieces  of  all  the  mischievous 
Spanish  letters  written  by  the  same  hand,  and  corrected 
by  that  of  the  Cardinal  de  Polignac,  so  that  there  can 
be  no  doubt  of  his  having  composed  them. 

A  manifesto,  too,  has  been  found  in  Malezieux's 
papers.  It  is  well  written,  but  not  improved  by  the 
translation.  Malezieux  pretends  that  he  only  translated 
it  before  it  was  sent  hence  to  Spain. 

Mademoiselle  de  Montauban  and  Mademoiselle  de 
Launay,  a  person  of  some  wit,  who  has  kept  up  a 
correspondence  with  Fontenelle,  and  who  was  fcmnie  dc 
chambre  to  the  Duchess  du  Maine,  have  both  been  sent 
to  the  Bastille. 

The  Duke  du  Maine  now  repents  that  he  followed 
his  wife's  advice  ;  but  it  seems  that  he  only  followed  the 
worst  part  of  it. 

The  Duchess  d'Orleans  has  been  for  some  days 
past  persuading  my  son  to  go  masked  to  a  ball.  She 
says  that  his  daughter,  the  Duchess  de  Berri,  and  I, 
make  him  pass  for  a  coward  by  preventing  him  from 
going  to  balls  and  running  about  the  town  by  night 
as  he  used  to  do  before ;  and  that  he  ought  not  to 
manifest  the  least  symptom  of  fear.  He  replied  that 
he  knew  he  should  give  me  great  pain  by  doing  so, 
and  that  the  least  he  could  do  was  to  tranquillize  my 


152  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

mind  by  living  prudently.  She  then  said  that  the 
Duchess  de  Berri  filled  me  with  unfounded  fears  in 
order  that  she  might  have  more  frequent  opportunities 
of  being  with  him,  and  of  governing  him  entirely. 
Can  the  devil  himself  be  worse  than  this  bastard  ?  It 
teaches  me,  however,  that  my  son  is  not  secure  with 
her.  I  must  do  violence  to  myself  that  my  suspicions 
may  not  be  apparent. 

My  son  has  not  kept  his  word ;  he  went  to  this 
ball,  although  he  denies  it. 

Although  it  is  well  known  that  Maintenon  has  had  a 
hand  in  all  these  affairs,  nothing  can  be  said  to  her,  for 
her  name  does  not  appear  in  any  way. 

When  my  son  is  told  of  persons  who  hate  him  and 
who  seek  his  life,  he  laughs  and  says : — "  They  dare  not ; 
I  am  not  so  weak  that  I  cannot  defend  myself."  This 
makes  me  very  angry. 

If  the  proofs  against  Malezieux  are  not  manifest, 
and  if  they  do  not  put  the  rogue  upon  his  trial,  it  will  be 
because  his  crime  is  so  closely  connected  with  that  of 
the  Duchess  du  Maine  that,  in  order  to  convict  him 
before  the  Parliament,  he  must  be  confronted  with  her. 
Besides,  as  the  Parliament  is  better  disposed  towards 
the  Duke  and  Duchess  du  Maine  than  to  my  son, 
they  might  be  acquitted  and  taken  out  of  his  hands, 
which  would  make  them  worse  than  they  are  now.  For 
this  reason  it  is  that  they  are  looking  for  proofs  so 
clear  that  the  Parliament  cannot  refuse  to  pronounce 
upon  them. 

The  Duke  du  Maine  writes  thus  to  his  sister: — 
"  They  ought  not  to  have  put  me  in  prison ;  but  they 
ought  to  have  stripped  me  and  put  me  into  petticoats 


AFFAIRS    OF    THE    REGENCY  I53 

for  having  been  thus  led  by  my  wife  "  ;  and  he  wrote  to 
Madame  de  Langeron  that  he  enjoyed  perfect  repose,  for 
which  he  thanked  God ;  that  he  was  glad  to  be  no  longer 
exposed  to  the  contempt  of  his  family  ;  and  that  his  sons 
ought  to  be  happy  to  be  no  longer  with  him. 

The  King  of  Spain  and  Alberoni  have  a  personal 
hatred  against  my  son,  which  is  the  work  of  the  Princess 
des  Ursins. 

My  son  is  naturally  brave,  and  fears  nothing  :  death 
is  not  at  all  terrible  to  him. 

On  the  29th  of  March  the  young  Duke  de  Richelieu 
was  taken  to  the  Bastille  :  this  caused  a  great  number  of 
tears  to  be  shed,  for  he  is  universally  loved.  He  had 
kept  up  a  correspondence  with  Alberoni,  and  had  got  his 
regiment  placed  at  Bayonne,  together  with  that  of  his 
friend  M.  de  Saillant,  for  the  purpose  of  delivering  the 
town  to  the  Spaniards.  He  went  on  Wednesday  last  to 
the  Marquis  de  Biron,  and  urged  him  to  despatch  him  as 
promptly  as  possible  to  join  his  regiment  at  Bayonne, 
and  so  prove  the  zeal  which  attached  him  to  my  son. 
His  comrade,  who  passes  for  a  coward  and  a  sharper 
at  play,  has  also  been  shut  up  in  the  Bastille.^ 

The  Duke  de  Richelieu  had  the  portraits  of  his 
mistresses  painted  in  all  sorts  of  monastic  habits  : 
Mademoiselle  de  Charolais^  as  a  Recollette  nun,  and  it 
is  said  to  be  very  like  her.  The  Marechales  de  Villars 
and  D'Estrees  are,  it  is  said,  painted  as  Capuchin  nuns. 

1  On  the  day  that  they  were  arrested,  the  Regent  said  he  had 
that  in  his  pocket  which  would  cut  off  four  heads,  if  the  Duke  had 
so  many. — Memoires  de  Duclos. 

2  Mademoiselle  de  Charolais  was  the  grand-daughter  of  the 
Prince  of  Conde. 


154  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

When  the  Duke  de  Richelieu  was  shown  his  letter 
to  Alberoni,  he  confessed  all  that  concerned  himself,  but 
would  not  disclose  his  accomplices. 

Nothing  but  billets-doux  were  found  in  his  writing- 
case.  Alberoni  in  this  affair  trusted  a  man  who  had 
formerly  been  in  his  service,  but  who  is  now  a  spy  of  my 
son's.  He  brought  Alberoni's  letter  to  the  Regent ;  who 
opened  it,  read  it,  had  a  copy  made,  resealed  it,  and  sent 
it  on  to  its  destination.^  The  young  Duke  de  Richelieu 
answered  it,  but  my  son  can  make  no  use  of  this  reply 
because  the  words  in  which  it  is  written  have  a  concealed 
sense. 

The  Princess  has  strongly  urged  my  son  to  permit 
the  Duchess  du  Maine  to  quit  Dijon,  under  the  pretext 
that  the  air  was  unwholesome  for  her.  My  son  con- 
sented upon  condition  that  she  should  be  conducted  in 
her  own  carriage,  but  under  the  escort  of  the  King's 
Guard,  from  Dijon  to  Chalons-sur-Saone.  Here  she 
thought  she  should  enjoy  comparative  liberty,  and  that 
the  town  would  be  her  prison  :  she  was  much  astonished 
to  find  that  she  was  as  closely  confined  at  Chalons  as  at 
Dijon.  When  she  asked  the  reason  for  this  rigour  she 
was  told  that  all  was  discovered,  and  that  the  prisoners 
had  disclosed  the  particulars  of  the  conspiracy.  She  was 
immediately  struck  with  this  ;  but  recovering  her  self- 
possession,  she  said,  *'  The  Duke  of  Orleans  thinks  that 
I  hate  him  ;  but  if  he  would  take  my  advice,  I  would 
counsel  him  better  than  any  other  person."  My  son's 
wife  remains  very  tranquil. 

I  This  letter  was  sent  to  the  Duke  by  one  Marin,  a  Neapolitan, 
who  spoke  Spanish  very  well. — Vide  Memoires  de  Richelieu,  tome  iii. 
p.  164,  edit.  1790. 


AFFAIRS    OF    THE    REGENCY  I55 

On  the  17th  of  April  a  rascal  was  brought  in  who 
was  near  surprising  my  son  in  the  Bois  de  Boulogne  a 
year  ago.  He  is  a  dismissed  colonel  ;  his  name  is 
La  Jonquiere.  He  had  written  to  my  son  demanding 
enormous  pensions  and  rewards  ;  but,  meeting  with  a 
refusal,  he  went  into  Spain,  where  he  promised  Alberoni 
to  carry  off  my  son,  and  deliver  him  into  his  hands,  dead 
or  alive.  He  brought  loo  men  with  him,  whom  he 
put  in  ambuscade  near  Paris.  He  missed  my  son  only 
by  a  quarter  of  an  hour  in  the  Bois  de  Boulogne,  which 
the  latter  had  passed  through  in  his  way  to  La  INIuette, 
\vhere  he  went  to  dine  with  his  daughter.  La  Jonquiere 
having  thus  failed  retired  in  great  vexation  to  the  Low 
Countries,  where  he  boasted  that  although  he  had 
missed  this  once  he  would  take  his  measures  so  much 
better  in  future  that  people  should  soon  hear  of  a  great 
blow  being  struck.  This  was  luckily  repeated  to  my 
son,  who  had  him  arrested  at  Liege.  He  sent  a  clever 
fellow  to  him,  who  caught  him,  and  leading  him  out  of 
the  house  where  they  were,  he  clapped  a  pistol  to  his 
throat,  and  threatened  to  shoot  him  on  the  spot  if  he  did 
not  go  with  him  and  without  speaking  a  word.  The 
rascal  overcome  with  terror  suffered  himself  to  be  taken 
to  the  boat,  but  when  he  saw  that  they  were  approach- 
ing the  French  territory  he  did  not  wish  to  go  any 
further :  he  said  he  was  ruined,  and  should  be  drawn  and 
quartered.  They  bound  him,  and  carried  him  to  the 
Bastille. 

I  have  exhorted  my  son  to  take  care  of  himself,  and 
not  to  go  out  but  in  a  carriage :  he  has  promised  that  he 
will  not,  but  I  cannot  trust  him. 

The  late  Monsieur  was  desirous  that  his  son's  wife 


156  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

should  not  be  a  coquette.  This  was  not  the  particular 
which  I  so  much  disapproved  of ;  but  I  wished  the 
husband  not  to  be  informed  of  it,  or  that  it  should  get 
abroad,  which  would  have  had  no  other  effect  than  that 
of  convincing  my  son  that  his  wife  had  dishonoured  him. 

I  must  never  talk  to  my  son  about  the  conspiracy  in 
the  presence  of  Madame  d'Orleans,  it  would  be  wounding 
her  in  the  tenderest  place ;  for  all  that  concerns  her 
brother  is  to  her  the  law  and  the  prophets. 

My  son  has  so  satisfactorily  disproved  the  accusations 
of  that  old  Maintenon  and  the  Duke  du  Maine,  that  the 
King  has  believed  him ;  and  after  a  minute  examination 
has  done  my  son  justice.  But  Madame  d'Orleans  has 
not  conducted  herself  well  in  this  affair ;  she  has  spread 
by  means  of  her  creatures  many  calumnies  against  my 
son,  and  has  even  said  that  he  wanted  to  poison  her. 
By  such  means  she  has  made  her  peace  with  old 
Maintenon,  who  could  not  endure  her  before.  I  have 
often  admired  the  patience  with  which  my  son  suffers 
all  this,  when  he  knows  it  just  as  well  as  I  do.  If 
things  had  remained  as  Madame  de  Maintenon  had 
arranged  them  at  the  death  of  the  King,  my  son  would 
only  have  been  nominally  Regent,  and  the  Duke  du 
Maine  would  actually  have  enjoyed  all  the  power.  She 
thought  because  my  son  is  in  the  habit  of  running  after 
women  a  little  that  he  would  be  afraid  of  the  labour,  and 
that  he  would  be  contented  with  the  title  and  a  large 
pension,  leaving  her  and  the  Duke  du  Maine  to  have 
their  own  way.  This  was  her  plan,  and  she  fancied  that 
her  calumnies  had  so  far  succeeded  in  making  my  son 
generally  despised  that  no  person  would  be  found  to 
espouse  his  cause.     But  my  son  was  not  so  unwise  as  to 


AFFAIRS   OF   THE    REGENCY  I57 

suffer  all  this  ;  he  pleaded  his  cause  so  well  to  the  Par- 
liament that  the  Government  was  entrusted  to  him, 
and  yet  the  old  woman  did  not  rehnquish  her  hopes 
until  my  son  had  the  Duke  du  Maine  arrested ;  then 
she  fainted. 

The  Pope's  nuncio  thrusts  his  nose  into  all  the  plots 
against  my  son  ;  he  may  be  a  good  priest,  but  he  is 
nevertheless  a  wicked  devil. 

On  the  25th  of  April  M.  de  Laval,  the  Duchess  de 
la  Roquelaure's  brother,  was  arrested. 

M.  de  Pompadour  has  accused  the  Duke  de  Laval 
of  acting  in  concert  with  the  Prince  de  Cellamara,  to 
whom,  upon  one  occasion,  he  acted  as  coachman,  and 
drove  him  to  the  Duchess  du  Maine  at  the  Arsenal. 
This  Count  de  Laval  is  always  sick  and  covered  with 
wounds ;  he  wears  a  plaster  which  reaches  from  ear  to 
ear ;  he  is  lame,  and  often  has  his  arm  in  a  sling ; 
nevertheless,  he  is  full  of  intrigue,  and  is  engaged  night 
and  day  in  writing  against  my  son. 

Madame  de  Maintenon  is  said  to  have  sent  large 
sums  of  money  into  the  provinces  for  the  purpose  of 
stirring  up  the  people  against  my  son ;  but,  thank  God, 
her  plan  has  not  succeeded. 

The  old  woman  has  spread  about  a  report  that  my 
son  poisoned  all  the  members  of  the  royal  family  who 
have  died  lately.  She  hired  one  of  the  King's  physicians 
first  to  spread  this  report.  If  Marechal,  the  King's 
surgeon,  who  was  present  at  the  opening  of  the  bodies, 
had  not  stated  that  there  was  no  appearance  of  poison, 
and  confirmed  that  statement  to  the  King,  this  infamous 
creature  would  have  plunged  my  innocent  son  into  a 
most  deplorable  situation. 


158  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

Mademoiselle  de  Charolais  says  that  the  affair  oi 
Bayonne  cannot  be  true,  for  that  the  Duke  de  Richelieu 
did  not  tell  her  of  it,  and  he  never  concealed  anything 
from  her.  She  says,  too,  that  she  will  not  see  my  son, 
for  his  having  put  the  Duke  into  the  Bastille. 

The  Duke  walks  about  on  the  top  of  the  terrace  at 
the  Bastille  with  his  hair  dressed  and  in  an  embroidered 
coat.  All  the  ladies  who  pass  stop  their  carriages  to  look 
at  the  pretty  fellow.^ 

Madame  d'Orleans  has  been  so  little  disposed  to 
undertake  her  husband's  defence  in  public,  that  she  has 
pretended  to  believe  the  charges  against  him,  although 
no  person  in  the  world  knows  better  than  she  does  that 
the  whole  is  a  lie.  She  sent  to  her  brothers  for  a  counter- 
poison,  so  that  my  son  should  not  take  her  off  by  those 
means  ;  and  thus  she  reconciled  Maintenon,  who  was  at 
enmity  with  her.  I  learnt  this  story  during  the  year,  and 
I  do  not  know  whether  my  son  is  aware  of  it.  I  would 
not  say  anything  to  him  about  it,  for  I  did  not  wish  to 
embroil  man  and  wife. 

The  Abbe  Dubois^  seems  to  think  that  we  do  not 
know  how  many  times  he  went  by  night  to  Madame  de 
Maintenon's,  to  help  this  fine  affair. 

My  son  has  been  dissuaded  from  issuing  the 
manifesto. 

1  This  young  man,  says  Duclos,  thought  himself  of  some  con- 
sequence when  he  was  made  a  State  prisoner,  and  endured  his 
confinement  with  the  same  levity  which  he  had  always  displayed  in 
love,  in  business,  or  in  war.  The  Regent  was  much  amused  with 
him,  and  suffered  him  to  have  all  he  wanted — his  valet  de  chambre, 
two  footmen,  music,  cards,  etc. ;  so  that,  although  he  was  deprived 
of  his  liberty,  he  might  be  as  licentious  as  ever. 

2  Madame  probably  means  the  Duke  du  Maine. 


AFFAIRS    OF    THE    REGENCY  I59 

Madame  d'Orleans  has  at  length  quite  regained  her 
husband ;  and,  following  her  advice,  he  goes  about  by 
night  in  a  coach.  On  Wednesday  night  he  set  off  for 
Anieres,  where  Parabere  has  a  house.  He  supped  there, 
and  getting  into  his  carriage  again,  after  midnight,  he 
put  his  foot  into  a  hole  and  sprained  it. 

I  am  very  much  afraid  that  my  son  will  be  attacked 
by  the  small-pox.  He  eats  heavy  suppers;  he  is  short 
and  fat,  and  just  one  of  those  persons  whom  the  disease 
generally  attacks. 

The  Cardinal  de  Noailles  has  been  pestering  my  son 
in  favour  of  the  Duke  de  Richelieu  ;  and  as  it  cannot 
be  positively  proved  that  he  addressed  the  letter  to 
Alberoni,  they  can  do  no  more  to  him  than  banish  him 
to  Conflans,  after  six  months'  imprisonment.  Made- 
moiselle de  Charolais  procured  some  one  to  ask  my 
son  secretly  by  what  means  she  could  see  the  Duke  de 
Richelieu,  and  speak  with  him,  before  he  set  off  for 
Richelieu.^  ]\Iy  son  replied,  "  that  she  had  better  speak 
to  the  Cardinal  de  Noailles  ;  for  as  he  was  to  conduct 
the  Duke  to  Conflans,  and  keep  him  in  his  own  house, 
he  would  know  better  than  any  other  person  how  he 
might  be  spoken  with."  When  she  learnt  that  the  Duke 
had  arrived  at  Saint  Germain,  she  hastened  thither 
immediately. 

I  This  must  have  been  a  joke  of  Mademoiselle  de  Charolais  ; 
for  she  had  already,  together  with  Mademoiselle  Valois,  paid  the 
Duke  several  visits  in  the  Bastille.  When  the  Duke  was  sent  to 
Conflans  to  the  Cardinal  de  Noailles,  he  used  to  escape  almost 
every  night,  and  come  to  see  his  mistresses.  It  was  this  that 
determined  the  Regent  to  send  him  to  Saint  Germain  en  Laye; 
but,  soon  afterwards,  Mademoiselle  de  Valois  obtained  from  her 
father  a  pardon  for  her  lover. — Manoiies  de  Richelieu,  tome  iii.  p.  171. 


l6o  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

I  never  doubted  for  a  moment  that  my  son's  marriage 
was  in  every  respect  unfortunate ;  but  my  advice  was  not 
listened  to.  If  the  union  had  been  a  good  one,  that  old 
Maintenon  would  not  have  insisted  on  it. 

Nothing  less  than  millions  are  talked  of  on  all  sides : 
my  son  has  made  me  also  richer  by  adding  130,000  livres 
to  my  pension. 

By  what  we  hear  daily  of  the  insurrection  in 
Bretagne,  it  seems  that  my  son's  enemies  are  more 
inveterate  against  him  than  ever.  I  do  not  know 
whether  it  is  true,  as  has  been  said,  that  there  was  a 
conspiracy  at  Rochelle,  and  that  the  governor  intended 
to  give  up  the  place  to  the  Spaniards,  but  has  fled ;  that 
ten  officers  were  engaged  in  the  plot,  some  of  whom 
have  been  arrested,  and  the  others  have  fled  to  Spain.^ 

I  always  took  the  Bishop  of  Soissons  for  an  honest 
man.  I  knew  him  when  he  was  only  an  abbe  and  the 
Duchess  of  Burgundy's  almoner ;  but  the  desire  to 
obtain  a  cardinal's  hat  drives  most  of  the  bishops  mad. 
There  is  not  one  of  them  who  does  not  believe  that  the 
more  impertinently  he  behaves  to  my  son  about  the 
Constitution,  the  more  he  will  improve  his  credit  with 
the  Court  of  Rome,  and  the  sooner  become  a  cardinal. 

My  son,  although  he  is  Regent,  never  comes  to 
see  me,  and  never  quits  me,  without  kissing  my  hand 
before  he  embraces  me ;  and  he  will  not  even  take  a 
chair  if  I  hand  it  to  him.  He  is  not,  however,  at  all 
timid,  but  chats  familiarly  with  me,  and  we  laugh 
and  talk  together  like  good  friends. 

I  Jean-Joseph  Languet  de  Gergy,  brother  of  the  cure  of 
St.  Sulpice  of  the  same  name:  he  was  appointed  archbishop  of 
Sens  in  1730. 


FRANCO  TSE    DAUBIGNE^    MARQUISE  DE 

MAINTENON  AND  HER  NIECE 

FRANCO  ISE-CHARLOTTE- 

AMABLE  D'AUBIGNE 


After  the  painting  by  L.  E.  Ferdinand,  in  the  gallery 
at   Versailles 


^C\  ■^.ZVOÖ^IK^^    ,'3LYim^\5K'a    ^Z\0'^^KSV=\ 


tSo/.j««^  'isoo,ly'3Myit**i»iiiS.i 


AFFAIRS    OF   THE    REGENCY  l6l 

While  the  Dauphin  was  alive  La  Chouin  behaved 
very  ill  to  my  son ;  she  embroiled  him  with  the  Dauphin, 
and  would  neither  speak  to  nor  see  him  ;  in  short,  she 
was  constantly  opposed  to  him.  And  yet,  when  he 
learnt  that  she  had  fallen  into  poverty,  he  sent  her 
money,  and  secured  her  a  pension  sufficient  to  live 
upon. 

My  son  gave  me  actions  to  the  amount  of  two 
millions,  which  I  distributed  among  my  household. 
The  King  also  took  several  millions  for  his  own  house- 
hold ;  all  the  royal  family  have  had  them  ;  all  the 
enfans  and  petits  enfans  de  France,  and  the  Princes  of 
the  blood. 

The  old  Court  is  doing  its  utmost  to  put  people 
out  of  conceit  with  Law's  bank. 

I  do  not  think  that  Lord  Stair  praises  my  son 
so  much  as  he  used  to  do,  for  they  do  not  seem  to  be 
very  good  friends.  After  having  received  all  kinds 
of  civilities  from  my  son,  who  has  made  him  richer 
than  ever  he  expected  to  be  in  his  life,  he  has  turned 
his  back  upon  him,  caused  him  numerous  little  troubles, 
and  annoys  him  so  much  that  my  son  would  gladly 
be  rid  of  him. 

My  son  was  obhged  to  make  a  speech  at  the 
Bank,  which  was  applauded. 


1720. 

They  have  been  obliged  to  adopt  severe  measures 
in  Bretagne;  four  persons  of  quahty  have  been  beheaded.^ 
One  of  them,  who  might  have  escaped  by  flying  to  Spain, 

I  MM.  Pont  Calec,  Mont  Louis,  Talhoriet,  and  Couedic. 

II 


l62  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

would  not  go.  When  he  was  asked  why,  he  said  it  had 
been  predicted  that  he  should  die  by  sea  (de  la  mer). 
Just  before  he  was  executed  he  asked  the  headsman 
what  his  name  was. 

*'  l\Iy  name  is  Sea  (La  Mer),"  replied  the  man. 

"  Then,"  said  the  nobleman,  "  I  am  undone.^ " 

All  Paris  has  been  mourning  at  the  cursed  decree 
which  Law  has  persuaded  my  son  to  make.  I  have 
received  anonymous  letters,  stating  that  I  have  nothing 
to  fear  on  my  own  account,  but  that  my  son  shall  be 
pursued  with  fire  and  sword ;  that  the  plan  is  laid  and 
the  affair  determined  on.  From  another  quarter  I  have 
learnt  that  knives  are  sharpening  for  my  son's  assassina- 
tion. The  most  dreadful  news  is  daily  reaching  me. 
Nothing  could  appease  the  discontent  until  the  Par- 
liament having  assembled,  two  of  its  members  were 
deputed  to  wait  upon  my  son,  who  received  them 
graciously,  and  following  their  advice  annulled  the 
decree,  and  so  restored  things  to  their  former  condition. 
This  proceeding  has  not  only  quieted  all  Paris,  but  has 
reconciled  my  son  (thank  God)  to  the  Parliament. 

My  son  wished  by  sending  an  emxbassy  to  give  a 
public  proof  how  much  he  wished  for  a  reconciliation 
between  the  members  of  the  royal  family  of  England, 
but  it  was  declined.^ 

1  M.  de  Pont  Calec  had  been  told  that  he  should  die  by  water, 
and  it  is  said  that  his  executioner's  name  was  Water  (L'Eau). — 
Memoircs  de  Richelieu,  tome  iii.  p.  193. 

2  George  II.  refused  the  embassy,  that  he  might  not  give  too 
much  publicity  to  the  disagreement  which  existed  between  him  and 
the  Prince  of  Wales.  Besides,  the  Ambassador,  the  Duke  de  la 
Force,  who  had  abjured  the  Protestant  faith,  could  not  have  been 
well  received  at  London,  where  his  mother  was  living,  and  pro- 
fessing the  religion  in  which  he  had  been  educated. 


AFFAIRS    OF   THE    REGENCY  163 

The  goldsmiths  will  work  no  longer,  for  they  charge 
their  goods  at  three  times  more  than  they  are  worth,  on 
account  of  the  bank-notes.  I  have  often  wished  those 
bank-notes  were  in  the  depths  of  the  infernal  regions ; 
they  have  given  my  son  much  more  trouble  than  relief. 
I  know  not  how  many  inconveniences  they  have  caused 
him.  Nobody  in  France  has  a  penny  ;  but,  saving  your 
presence,  and  to  speak  in  plain  palatine,  there  is  plenty 
of  paper  *    *    *    * 

It  is  singular  enough  that  my  son  should  only 
become  so  firmly  attached  to  his  black  Parabere,  when 
she  had  preferred  another  and  had  formally  dismissed 
him. 

Excepting  the  affair  with  Parabere,  my  son  lives 
upon  very  good  terms  with  his  wife,  who  for  her  part 
cares  very  little  about  it;  nothing  is  so  near  to  her  heart 
as  her  brother  the  Duke  du  Maine.  In  a  recent  quarrel 
which  she  had  with  my  son  on  this  subject,  she  said  she 
would  retire  to  Rambouillet  or  Montmartre.  *'  Where- 
ever  you  please,"  he  replied ;  "  or  wherever  you  think 
you  will  be  most  comfortable."  This  vexed  her  so  much 
that  she  wept  day  and  night  about  it. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  while  I  was  at  the  Carmelites, 
Madame  de  Chateau-Thiers  came  to  see  me,  and  said  to 
me,  "M.  de  Simiane  is  come  from  the  Palais  Royal;  and 
he  thinks  it  fit  you  should  know  that  on  your  return  you 
will  find  all  the  courts  filled  with  the  people  who, 
although  they  do  not  say  anything,  will  not  disperse. 
At  six  o'clock  this  morning  they  brought  in  three  dead 
bodies  which  M.  Le  Blanc  has  had  removed.  M.  Law 
has  taken  refuge  in  the  Palais  Royal;  they  have  done 
him   no   harm ;    but   his   coachman   was   stoned   as   he 

II — 2 


164  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

returned,  and  the  carriage  broken  to  pieces.  It  was  the 
coachman's  fault,  who  told  them  'they  were  a  rabble, 
and  ought  to  be  hanged.' "  I  saw  at  once  that  it  would 
not  do  to  seem  to  be  intimidated,  so  I  ordered  the  coach 
to  be  driven  to  the  Palais  Royal.  There  was  such  a 
press  of  carriages  that  I  was  obliged  to  wait  a  full  hour 
before  I  reached  the  rue  Saint  Honore  ;  then  I  heard  the 
people  talking:  they  did  not  say  anything  against  my 
son;  they  gave  me  several  benedictions,  and  demanded 
that  Law  should  be  hanged.  When  I  reached  the 
Palais  Royal  all  was  calm  again.  My  son  came  to  me, 
and  in  the  midst  of  my  anxiety  he  was  perfectly  tranquil, 
and  even  made  me  laugh. 

M.  Le  Blanc  went  with  great  boldness  into  the 
midst  of  the  irritated  populace  and  harangued  them. 
He  had  the  bodies  of  the  men  who  had  been  crushed  to 
death  in  the  crowd  brought  away,  and  succeeded  in 
quieting  them. 

My  son  is  incapable  of  being  serious  and  acting  like 
a  father  with  his  children  ;  he  lives  with  them  more  like 
a  brother  than  a  father. 

The  Parliament  not  only  opposed  the  edict,  and 
would  not  allow  it  to  pass,  but  also  refused  to  give  any 
opinion,  and  rejected  the  affair  altogether.  For  this 
reason  my  son  had  a  company  of  the  foot-guard  placed 
on  Sunday  morning  at  the  entrance  of  the  palace  to 
prevent  their  assembhng ;  and  at  the  same  time  he 
addressed  a  letter  to  the  Premier-President,  and  to  the 
Parliament  a  lettre-de-cachet,  ordering  them  to  repair  to 
Pontoise  to  hold  their  sittings.  The  next  day,  when  the 
musketeers  had  relieved  the  guards,  the  young  fellows, 
not  knowing  what  to  do  to  amuse  themselves,  resolved  to 


AFFAIRS    OF   THE    REGENCY  165 

play  at  a  parliament.  They  elected  a  chief  and  other 
presidents,  the  King's  ministers,  and  the  advocates. 
These  things  being  settled,  and  having  received  a 
sausage  and  a  pie  for  breakfast,  they  pronounced  a 
sentence,  in  which  they  condemned  the  sausage  to  be 
cooked  and  the  pie  to  be  cut  up. 

All  these  things  make  me  tremble  for  my  son.  I 
receive  frequently  anonymous  letters  full  of  dreadful 
menaces  against  him,  assuring  me  that  two  hundred 
bottles  of  wine  have  been  poisoned  for  him,  and,  if  this 
should  fail,  that  they  will  make  use  of  a  new  artificial 
fire  to  burn  him  alive  in  the  Palais  Royal. 

It  is  too  true  that  Madame  d'Orleans  loves  her 
brother  better  than  her  husband. 

The  Duke  du  Maine  says  that  if  by  his  assistance 
the  King  should  obtain  the  direction  of  his  own  affairs, 
he  would  govern  him  entirely,  and  would  be  more  a 
monarch  than  the  King,  and  that  after  my  son's  death  he 
would  reign  with  his  sister. 

A  week  ago  I  received  letters  in  which  they 
threatened  to  burn  my  son  at  the  Palais  Royal  and 
me  at  Saint  Cloud.  Lampoons  are  circulated  in  Paris, 
of  which  the  following  is  one : — 

*'  Si  tu  veux  de  ton  parlement 
Changer  I'humeur  hautaine, 
De  Pontoise,  Sire  Regent, 
Fais  le  passer  ä  Fresne ; 
C'est  un  lieu  de  correction 
La  faridondaine,  la  faridondon, 
Ou  d'Auguesseau  s'est  converti, 

Biribi 
A  la  fa9on  de  Barbari 
Mod  ami." 


l66  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

This  is  another  of  the  same  kind : — 

"  Accables  de  malheurs,  menac6s  de  la  paste, 
Grand  Saint-Roch,  notre  unique  bien, 
Ecoutez  un  peuple  chretien  : 
Nous  ne  craindrons  rien  de  funeste, 
Venez  nous  secourir,  soyez  notre  soutien  I 
Detournez  de  sur  nous  la  colere  celeste, 
Mais  n'amenez  pas  votre  chien, 
Nous  n'avons  pas  de  pain  de  reste." 

My  son  has  already  slept  several  times  at  the 
Tuileries,  but  I  fear  that  the  King  will  not  be  able  to 
accustom  himself  to  his  ways,  for  my  son  could  never  in 
his  life  play  with  children :  he  does  not  like  them. 

He  was  once  beloved,  but  since  the  arrival  of  that 
cursed  Law  he  is  hated  more  and  more.  Not  a  week 
passes  without  my  receiving  by  the  post  letters  filled  with 
frightful  threats,  in  which  my  son  is  spoken  of  as  a  bad 
man  and  a  tyrant. 

I  have  just  now  received  a  letter  in  which  he  is 
threatened  with  poison.  When  I  showed  it  to  him  he 
did  nothing  but  laugh,  and  said  the  Persian  poison  could 
not  be  given  to  him,  and  that  all  that  was  said  about  it 
was  a  fable. 

To-morrow  the  Parliament  will  return  to  Paris, 
which  will  delight  the  Parisians  as  much  as  the  de- 
parture of  Law. 

That  old  Maintenon  has  sent  the  Duke  du  Maine 
about  to  tell  the  members  of  the  Royal  Family  that 
my  son  poisoned  the  Dauphin,  the  Dauphine,  and  the 
Duke  de  Berri.  The  old  woman  has  even  done  more : 
she  has  hinted  to  the  Duchess  that  she  is  not  secure  in 
her  husband's  house,  and  that  she  should  ask  her  brother 


AFFAIRS    OF    THE    REGENCY  167 

for  a  counter-poison,  as  she  herself  was  obh'ged  to  do 
during  the  latter  days  of  the  King's  life. 

The  old  woman  lives  very  retired.  No  one  can  say 
that  any  imprudent  expressions  have  escaped  her.  This 
makes  me  believe  that  she  has  some  plan  in  her  head, 
but  I  cannot  guess  what  it  is. 


SECT.  XI. 

THE  DUCHESS  OF  ORLEANS,  WIFE  OF  THE  REGENT. 

If  by  shedding  my  own  blood  I  could  have  pre- 
vented my  son's  marriage  I  would  willingly  have  done 
so ;  but  since  the  thing  was  done,  I  have  had  no  other 
wish  than  to  preserve  harmony.  Monsieur  behaved 
to  her  with  great  attention  during  the  first  month,  but  as 
soon  as  he  suspected  that  she  looked  with  too  favourable 
an  eye  upon  the  Chevalier  du  Roye,^  he  hated  her  as  the 
Devil.  To  prevent  an  explosion,  I  was  obliged  daily  to 
represent  to  him  that  he  would  dishonour  himself,  as 
well  as  his  son,  by  exposing  her  conduct,  and  would 
infallibly  bring  upon  himself  the  King's  displeasure.  As 
no  person  had  been  less  favourable  to  this  marriage  than 
I,  he  could  not  suspect  but  that  I  was  moved,  not  from 
any  love  for  my  daughter-in-law,  but  from  the  wish  to 
avoid  scandal  and  out  of  affection  to  my  son  and  the 
whole  family.  While  all  eclat  was  avoided,  the  public 
were  at  least  in  doubt  about  the  matter :  by  an  opposite 
proceeding  their  suspicions  would  have  been  confirmed. 

Madame  d'Orleans  looks  older  than  she  is ;  for  she 
paints  beyond  all  measure,  so  that  she  is  often  quite  red. 
We  frequently  joke  her  on  this  subject,  and  she  even 

I  Bartholemi  de  la  Rochefoucauld,  at  first  Chevalier  de  Roye, 
but  afterwards  better  known  by  the  title  of  Marquis  de  la  Rochefou- 
cauld. He  was  Captain  of  the  Duchess  de  Berri's  Body-Guards,  and 
he  died  in  1724. 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  169 

laughs  at  it  herself.  Her  nose  and  cheeks  are  somewhat 
pendant,  and  her  head  shakes  hke  an  old  woman  :  this  is 
in  consequence  of  the  small-pox.  She  is  often  ill,  and 
always  has  a  fictitious  malady  in  reserve.  She  has  a 
true  and  a  false  spleen  :  whenever  she  complains,  my 
son  and  I  frequently  rally  her  about  it.  I  believe  that 
all  the  indispositions  and  weaknesses  she  has,  proceed 
from  her  always  lying  in  bed  or  on  a  sofa :  she  eats  and 
drinks  reclining,  through  mere  idleness:  she  has  not 
worn  stays  since  the  King's  death :  she  never  could 
bring  herself  to  eat  with  the  late  King,  her  own  father, 
still  less  would  she  with  me.  It  would  then  be  necessary 
for  her  to  sit  upon  a  stool,  and  she  likes  better  to  loll 
upon  a  sofa  or  sit  in  an  arm-chair  at  a  small  table  with 
her  favourite  the  Duchess  of  Sforza.^  She  admits  her 
son,  and  sometimes  Mademoiselle  d'Orleans.  She  is  so 
indolent  that  she  will  not  stir;  she  would  like  larks 
ready  roasted  to  drop  into  her  mouth ;  she  eats  and 
walks  slowly,  but  eats  enormously.  It  is  impossible  to 
be  more  idle  than  she  is:  she  admits  this  herself;  but 
she  does  not  attempt  to  correct  it :  she  goes  to  bed  early 
that  she  may  lie  the  longer.  She  never  reads  herself, 
but  when  she  has  the  spleen  she  makes  her  women  read 
her  to  sleep.  Her  complexion  is  good,  but  less  so  than 
her  second  daughter's.^     She  walks  a  little  on  one  side. 


1  Louise-Adelaide  de  Damas-Thianges,  Duchess  of  Sforza,  was 
Madame  de  Montespan's  niece,  and  cousin-german  to  the  Duchess 
of  Orleans.  "  Her  only  beauty,"  says  Madame  de  Caylus  in  her 
Souvenirs,  "  is  her  complexion,  which  is  very  white,  and  her  fine  eyes. 
Her  nose  is  hooked,  and  almost  reaches  her  red  lips,  which  made 
Madame  de  Vendome  say  that  she  looked  like  a  parrot  eatin^^  a 
cherry." 

2  Louise-Adelaide  d'Orleans,  Abbess  of  Chelles. 


lyo  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

which  Madame  de  Ratzenhausen  calls  walking  by  ear. 
She  does  not  think  that  there  is  her  equal  in  the  world 
for  beauty,  wit,  and  perfection  of  all  kinds.  I  always 
compare  her  to  Narcissus,  who  died  of  self-admiration. 
She  is  so  vain  as  to  think  she  has  more  sense  than  her 
husband,  who  has  a  great  deal;  while  her  notions  are  not 
in  the  slightest  degree  elevated.  She  lives  much  in  the 
femme-de-chambre  style;  and,  indeed,  loves  this  society 
better  than  that  of  persons  of  birth.  The  ladies  are  often 
a  week  together  without  seeing  her  ;  for  without  being 
summoned  they  cannot  approach  her.  She  does  not 
know  how  to  live  as  the  wife  of  a  prince  should,  having 
been  educated  like  the  daughter  of  a  citizen.  A  long 
time  had  elapsed  before  she  and  her  younger  brother 
were  legitimated  by  the  King ;  I  do  not  know  for  what 
reason.^  When  they  arrived  at  Court  their  conversation 
was  exactly  like  that  of  the  common  people. 

In  my  opinion  my  son's  wife  has  no  charms  at  all ; 
her  physiognomy  does  not  please  me.  I  don't  know 
whether  my  son  loves  her  much,  but  I  know  she  does 
what  she  pleases  with  him.  The  populace  and  the 
femmes  de  chambre  are  fond  of  her  ;  but  she  is  not  liked 
elsewhere.  She  often  goes  to  the  Salut  at  the  Quinze 
Vingts  ;  and  her  women  are  ordered  to  say  that  she  is  a 
saint,  who  suffers  my  son  to  be  surrounded  by  mistresses 
without    complaining.      This   secures    the    pity    of    the 

I  This  legitimation  presented  great  difificulties  during  the  life 
of  the  Marquis  de  Montespan.  M.  Achilla  de  Harlai,  Procureur- 
General  du  Parliament,  helped  to  remove  them  by  having  the 
Chevalier  de  Longueville,  son  of  the  Duke  of  that  name  and  of  the 
Marechale  de  la  Feste,  recognized  without  naming  his  mother. 
This  once  done,  the  children  of  the  King  and  of  Madame  de 
Montespan  were  legitimated  in  the  same  manner. 


THE   DUCHESS   OF   ORLEANS  171 

populace  and  makes  her  pass  for  one  of  the  best  of 
wives,  while,  in  fact,  she  is,  like  her  elder  brother,  full 
of  artifice. 

She  is  very  superstitiour  Some  years  ago  a  nun  of 
Fontevrault,  called  Madame  de  Boitar,  died.  Whenever 
Madame  d'Orleans  loses  anything  she  promises  to  this 
nun  prayers  for  the  redemption  of  her  soul  from 
purgatory,  and  then  does  not  doubt  that  she  shall  find 
what  she  has  lost.  She  piques  herself  upon  being 
extremely  pious  but  does  not  consider  lying  and  deceit 
are  the  works  of  the  devil  and  not  of  God.  Ambition, 
pride,  and  selfishness  have  entirely  spoilt  her.  I  fear  she 
will  not  make  a  good  end.  That  I  may  live  in  peace  I 
seem  to  shut  my  eyes  to  these  things.  My  son  often,  in 
allusion  to  her  pride,  calls  hei  Madame  Lucifer.  She  is 
not  backward  in  believing  everything  complimentary 
that  is  said  to  her  Montespan,  old  Mamtenon,  and  all 
the  femtnes  de  chanibre  have  made  her  believe  that  she  did 
my  son  honour  in  marrying  him ;  and  she  is  so  vain  of 
her  own  birth  and  that  oi  her  brothers  and  sisters  that 
she  will  not  hear  a  word  said  against  them;  she  will  not 
see  any  difference  between  legitimate  and  illegitimate 
children- 
She  wishes  to  reign  ;  but  she  knows  nothing  of  true 
grandeur,  havmg  been  educated  in  too  low  a  manner. 
She  might  five  well  as  a  simple  duchess ;  but  not  as 
one  of  the  royal  family  of  Francs.  It  is  too  true  that 
she  has  always  been  ambitious  of  possessing,  not  my 
son's  heart,  but  his  power ;  she  is  always  in  fear  lest 
someone  else  should  govern  him.  Her  estabHshment 
IS  well  regulated  ;  my  son  has  always  let  her  be  mistress 
in  this  particular.     As  to  her  children,   I  let  them  go 


172  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

on  in  their  own  way;  they  were  brought  here  without 
my  consent,  and  it  is  for  others  to  take  care  of  them. 
Sometimes  she  displays  more  affection  for  her  brother 
than  even  for  her  children.  An  ambitious  woman  as 
she  is,  having  it  put  into  her  head  by  her  brother 
that  she  ought  to  be  the  Regent,  can  love  none  but 
him.  She  would  like  to  see  him  Regent  better  than 
her  husband,  because  he  has  persuaded  her  that  she 
shall  reign  with  him ;  she  believes  it  firmly,  although 
everyone  else  knows  that  his  own  wife  is  too  ambitious 
to  permit  anyone  but  herself  to  reign.  Besides  her 
ambition  she  has  a  great  deal  of  ill-temper.  She  will 
never  pardon  either  the  nun  of  Chelles^  or  Mademoiselle 
de  Valois,  because  they  did  not  like  her  nephew  with 
the  long  lips.^  Her  anger  is  extremely  bitter,  and  she 
will  never  forgive.  She  loves  only  her  relations  on 
the  maternal  side.  Madame  de  Sforza,  her  favourite, 
is  the  daughter  of  Madame  de  Thianges,  Madame  de 
Montespan's  sister,  and  therefore  a  cousin  of  Madame 
d'Orleans,  who  hates  her  sister  and  her  nephew  worse 
than  the  Devil. 

I  could  forgive  her  all  if  she  were  not  so  treacherous. 
She  flatters  me  when  I  am  present,  but  behind  my  back 
she  does  all  in  her  power  to  set  the  Duchess  de  Berri 
against  me ;  she  tells  her  not  to  believe  that  I  love  her, 
but  that  I  wish  to  have  her  sister  with  me.  Madame 
d'Orleans  believes  that  her  daughter,  Madame  de  Berri, 
loves  her  less  than  her  father.  It  is  true  that  the 
daughter  has  not  a  very  warm  attachment  to  her  mother, 

1  The  Abbess  of  Chelles. 

2  Louis-Auguste  de  Bourbon,  Prince  de  Dombes,  born  in  1700, 
died  in  1755. 


THE    DUCHESS    OF   ORLEANS  1 73 

but  she  does  her  duty  to  her ;  and  yet  the  more  they 
are  full  of  mutual  civilities  the  more  they  quarrel.  On 
the  4th  October,  1718,  Madame  de  Berri  having  invited 
her  father  to  go  and  sleep  at  La  Muette,  to  see  the 
vintage  feast  and  dance  which  were  to  be  held  on  the 
next  day,  Madame  d'Orleans  wrote  to  Madame  de  Berri, 
and  asked  her  if  she  thought  it  consistent  with  the  piety 
of  the  Carmelites  that  she  should  ask  her  father  to  sleep 
in  her  house.  Madame  de  Berri  replied  that  it  had  never 
been  thought  otherwise  than  pious  that  a  parent  should 
sleep  in  his  daughter's  house.  The  mother  did  this  only 
to  annoy  her  husband  and  daughter,  and  when  she 
chooses  she  has  a  very  cutting  way.  It  may  be 
imagined  how  this  letter  was  received  by  the  father 
and  daughter.  I  arrived  at  La  Muette  just  as  it  had 
come.  My  son  dare  not  complain  to  me,  for  as  often 
as  he  does,  I  say  to  him,  "  George  Dandin,  you  would 
have  it  so^ : "  he  therefore  only  laughed  and  said  nothing. 
I  did  not  wish  to  add  to  the  bitterness  which  this  had 
occasioned,  for  that  would  have  been  to  blow  a  fire 
already  too  hot ;  I  confined  myself,  therefore,  to  observing 
that  when  she  wrote  it  she  probably  had  the  spleen. 

She  is  not  very  fond  of  her  children,  and,  as  I  think, 
she  carries  her  indifference  too  far  ;  for  the  children  see 
she  does  not  love  them,  and  this  makes  them  fond  of 
being  with  me.  This  angers  the  mother,  and  she 
reproaches  them  for  it,  which  only  makes  them  like 
her  less. 

Although  she  loves  her  son,  she  does  not  in  general 
care  so  much  for  her  children  as  for  her  brothers,  and  all 
who  belong^  to  the  House  of  Mortemart. 


174  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

I  was  the  unintentional  cause  of  making  a  quarrel 
between  her  and  the  nun  of  Chelles.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  affair  of  the  Duke  du  Maine,  I  received  a 
letter  from  my  daughter^  addressed  to  Madame  d'Orleans; 
and  not  thinking  that  it  was  for  the  Abbess,  who  bears 
the  same  title  with  her  mother,  I  sent  it  to  the  latter. 
This  letter  happened,  unluckily,  to  be  an  answer  to  one  of 
our  Nun's,  in  which  she  had  very  plainly  said  what  she 
thought  of  the  Duke  and  Duchess  du  Maine,  and  ended 
by  pitying  her  father  for  being  the  Duke's  brother-in- 
law,  and  for  having  contracted  an  alliance  so  absurd  and 
injurious.  It  may  be  guessed  whether  my  daughter's 
answer  was  palatable  to  my  daughter-in-law.  I  am  very 
sorry  that  I  made  the  mistake  ;  but  what  right  had  she 
to  read  a  letter  which  was  not  meant  for  her  ? 

The  new  Abbess  of  Chelles  has  had  a  great  difference 
with  her  mother,  who  says  she  will  never  forgive  her  for 
having  agreed  with  her  father  to  embrace  the  religious 
profession  without  her  knowledge.  The  daughter  said 
that  as  her  mother  had  always  taken  the  side  of  the 
former  abbess  against  her,  she  had  not  confided  this 
secret  to  her,  from  a  conviction  that  she  would  oppose 
it  to  please  the  Abbess.  This  threw  the  mother  into 
a  paroxysm  of  grief.  She  said  she  was  very  unhappy 
both  in  her  husband  and  her  children ;  that  her  husband 
was  the  most  unjust  person  in  the  world,  for  that  he 
kept  her  brother-in-law  in  prison,  who  was  one  of  the 
best  and  most  pious  of  men — in  short,  a  perfect  saint ; 
and   that    God   would  punish    such   wickedness.       The 

I  The  Duchess  of  Lorraine. 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    ORLEANS  175 

daughter  replied  it  was  respect  for  her  mother  that 
kept  her  silent;  and  the  latter  became  quite  furious. 
This  shows  that  she  hates  us  as  the  very  Devil,  and 
that  she  loves  none  but  her  lame  brother,  and  those  who 
love  him  or  are  nearly  connected  w^th  him. 

She  thinks  there  never  was  so  perfect  a  being  in 
the  world  as  her  mother.  She  cannot  quite  persuade 
herself  that  she  was  ever  Queen,  because  she  knew  the 
Queen  too  well,  who  always  called  her  daughter,  and 
treated  her  better  than  her  sisters ;  I  cannot  tell  why, 
because  she  was  not  the  most  amiable  of  them. 

It  is  quite  true  that  there  is  little  sympathy  between 
my  son's  wife  and  me  ;  but  we  live  together  as  politely 
as  possible.  Her  singular  conduct  shall  never  prevent 
me  from  keeping  that  promise  which  I  made  to  the  late 
King  in  his  last  moments.  He  gave  some  good  Christian 
exhortations  to  Madame  d' Orleans  ;  but,  as  the  proverb 
says,  it  is  useless  to  preach  to  those  who  have  no  heart 
to  act. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year  (1718)  her  brothers  and 
relations  said  that  but  for  the  antidotes  which  had  been 
administered  to  Tvladame  d'Orleans,  without  the  knowledge 
of  me  or  my  son,  she  must  have  perished. 

I  had  resolved  not  to  interfere  with  anything 
respecting  this  affair ;  but  had  the  satisfaction  of 
speaking  my  mind  a  little  to  Madame  du  Maine.  I 
said  to  her: — "Niece"  (by  which  appellation  I  always 
addressed  her)  "  I  beg  you  will  let  me  know  who  told 
you  that  Madame  d'Orleans  had  taken  a  counter-poison 
unknown  to  us.  It  is  the  greatest  falsehood  that  ever 
was  uttered,  and  you  may  say  so  from  me  to  whoever 
told  it  you." 


lyÖ  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

She  looked  red,  and  said,  "  I  never  said  it  was  so." 

*'  I  am  very  glad  of  it,  niece,"  I  replied  ;  "  for  it 
would  be  very  disgraceful  to  you  to  have  said  so,  and 
you  ought  not  to  allow  people  to  bring  you  such  tales." 
When  she  heard  this  she  went  off  very  quickly. 

Madame  d'Orleans  is  a  little  inconstant  in  her  friend- 
ship. She  is  very  fond  of  jewels,  and  once  wept  for 
four-and-twenty  hours  because  my  son  gave  a  pair  of 
beautiful  pendants  to  Madame  de  Berri. 

My  son  has  this  year  (1719)  increased  his  wife's 
income  by  160,000  livres,  the  arrears  of  which  have  been 
paid  to  her  from  1716,  so  that  she  received  at  once  the 
sum  of  480,000  livres.  I  do  not  envy  her  this  money, 
but  I  cannot  bear  the  idea  that  she  is  thus  paid  for  her 
infidelity.     One  must,  however,  be  silent. 


SECT.  XII. 

MARIE-ANNE    CHRISTINE   VICTOIRE    OF    BAVARIA,    THE 
FIRST    DAUPHINE. 

She  was  ugly,  but  her  extreme  politeness  made  her 
very  agreeable.  She  loved  the  Dauphin  more  like  a  son 
than  a  husband.  Although  he  loved  her  very  well,  he 
wished  to  live  with  her  in  an  unceremonious  manner, 
and  she  agreed  to  it  to  please  him.  I  used  often  to 
laugh  at  her  superstitious  devotion,  and  undeceived  her 
upon  many  of  her  strange  opinions.  She  spoke  Italian 
very  well,  but  her  German  was  that  of  the  peasants  of 
the  country.  At  first,  when  she  and  Bessola  were 
talking  together,  I  could  not  understand  a  word. 

She  always  manifested  the  greatest  friendship  and 
confidence  in  me  to  the  end  of  her  days.  She  was  not 
haughty,  but  as  it  had  become  the  custom  to  blame 
everything  she  did,  she  was  somewhat  disdainful.  She 
had  a  favourite  called  Bessola — a  false  creature,  who  had 
sold  her  to  Maintenon.  But  for  the  infatuated  liking  she 
had  for  this  woman,  the  Dauphine  would  have  been 
much  happier.  Through  her,  however,  she  was  made 
one  of  the  most  wretched  women  in  the  world. 

This  Bessola  could  not  bear  that  the  Dauphine 
should  speak  to  any  person  but  herself :  she  was  mer- 
cenary and  jealous,  and  feared  that  the  friendship  of  the 
Dauphine  for  anyone  else  would  discredit  her  with 
Maintenon,  and  that  her  mistress's  liberality  to  others 

12 


178  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

would  diminish  that  which  she  hoped  to  experience 
herself.  I  told  this  person  the  truth  once,  as  she 
deserved  to  be  told,  in  the  presence  of  the  Dauphine  ; 
from  which  period  she  has  neither  done  nor  said  any- 
thing troublesome  to  me.  I  told  the  Dauphine  in  plain 
German  that  it  was  a  shame  that  she  should  submit  to 
be  governed  by  Bessola  to  such  a  degree  that  she  could 
not  speak  to  whom  she  chose :  I  said  this  was  not  friend- 
ship, but  a  slavery,  which  was  the  derision  of  the  Court. 

Instead  of  being  vexed  at  this,  she  laughed,  and 
said, — "  Has  not  everybody  some  weakness?  Bessola  is 
mine." 

This  wench  often  put  me  in  an  ill-humour :  at  last 
I  lost  all  patience,  and  could  no  longer  restrain  myself.  I 
would  often  have  told  her  what  I  thought,  but  that 
I  saw  it  would  really  distress  the  poor  Dauphine  :  I 
therefore  restrained  myself,  and  said  to  her,  "Out  of 
complaisance  to  you,  I  will  be  silent ;  but  give  such 
orders  that  Bessola  may  not  again  rouse  me,  otherwise 
I  cannot  promise  but  that  I  may  say  something  she  will 
not  like. " 

The  Dauphine  thanked  me  affectionately,  and  thus 
more  than  ever  engaged  my  silence. 

When  the  Dauphine  arrived  from  Bavaria,  the  fine 
Court  of  France  was  on  the  decline :  it  was  at  the 
commencement  of  Maintenon's  reign,  which  spoilt  and 
degraded  everything.  It  was  not,  therefore,  surprising 
chat  the  poor  Dauphine  should  regret  her  own  country. 
Maintenon  annoyed  her  immediately  after  her  marriage 
in  such  a  manner  as  must  have  excited  pity.  The 
Dauphine  had  made  her  own  marriage:  she  had  hoped 
to  be  uncontrolled,  and  to  become  her  own  mistress  ;  but 


THE   FIRST   DAUPHINE  179 

she  was  placed  in  that  Maintenon's  hands,  who  wanted 
to  govern  her  Hke  a  child  of  seven  years  old,  although 
she  was  nineteen.  That  old  Maintenon,  piqued  at  the 
Dauphine  for  wishing  to  hold  a  Court,  as  she  should  have 
done,  turned  the  King  against  her.  Bessola  finished  this 
work  by  betraying  and  selling  her ;  and  thus  was  the 
Dauphine's  misery  accompHshed !  By  selecting  me  for 
her  friend,  she  filled  up  the  cup  of  Maintenon's  hatred, 
who  was  paying  Bessola;  because  she  knew  she  was 
jealous  of  me,  and  that  I  had  advised  the  Dauphine  not 
to  keep  her;  for  I  was  quite  aware  that  she  had  secret 
interviews  with  Maintenon. 

That  lady  had  also  another  creature  in  the  Dauphine's 
household:  this  was  Madame  de  Montchevreuil,  the 
goiivernatite  of  the  Dauphine's  ßlles  d'honneiir}  Madame 
de  Maintenon  had  engaged  her  to  place  the  Dauphin 
upon  good  terms  with  the  ßlles  dlionnciir,  and  she  finished 
by  estranging  him  altogether  from  his  wife.  During 
her  pregnancy,  which,  as  well  as  her  lying-in,  was 
extremely  painful,  the  Dauphine  could  not  go  out ;  and 
this  Montchevreuil  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
thus  afforded  her  to  introduce  the  filles  d'honneur  to  the 
Dauphin  to  hunt  and  game  with  him.  He  became 
fond,  in  his  way,  of  the  sister  of  La  Force,  who  was 

I  She  was,  says  the  writer  of  the  Notes  on  Dangeau's  Journal,  oi 
a  long,  thin  figure;  devout,  austere,  and  bitter.  Her  nose  was 
without  end;  her  teeth  long  and  yellow,  which  her  imbecile  laugh 
occasionally  displayed;  her  face  was  like  yellow  wax: — in  short,  she 
looked  like  a  puppet  moving  upon  springs.  With  all  her  virtue  and 
vigilance,  she  could  not  prevent  one  of  her  children  committing  an 
offence  in  the  very  heart  of  the  Court;  nor  her  daughter-in-law 
from  passing  her  days  and  nights  in  ruinous  play  unknown  to  her. 
In  other  respects  she  was  a  good  woman,  and  not  proud  ;  her 
husband  was  one  of  the  best  men  and  greatest  fools  ever  known 

12 — 2 


l8o  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

afterwards  compelled  to  marry  young  Du  Roure.  The 
attachment  continued,  notwithstanding  this  marriage; 
and  she  procured  the  Dauphin's  written  promise  to 
marry  her  in  case  of  the  death  of  the  Dauphine  and  her 
husband.  I  do  not  know  how  the  late  King  became 
acquainted  with  this  fact ;  but  it  is  certain  that  he  was 
seriously  angered  at  it,  and  that  he  banished  Du  Roure 
to  Gascony,  his  native  country.^  The  Dauphin  had  an 
affair  of  gallantry  with  another  of  his  wiie's  ßlles  dlwnneur 
called  Rambures.  He  did  not  affect  any  dissimulation 
with  his  wife ;  a  great  uproar  ensued ;  and  that  wicked 
Bessola,  following  the  directions  of  old  Maintenon,  who 
planned  everything,  detached  the  Dauphin  from  his  wife 
more  and  more.  The  latter  was  not  very  fond  of  him  ; 
but  what  displeased  her  in  his  amours  was  that  they 
exposed  her  to  be  openly  and  constantly  ridiculed  and 
insulted.  Montchevreuil  made  her  pay  attention  to  all 
that  passed,  and  Bessola  kept  up  her  anger  against  her 
husband. 

Maintenon  had  caused  it  to  be  reported  among  the 
people  by  her  agents  that  the  Dauphine  hated  France, 
and  that  she  urged  the  imposition  of  new  taxes. 

The  Dauphine  was  so  ill-treated  in  her  accouche- 
ment of  the  Duke  de  Berri  that  she  became  quite 
deformed,  although  previous  to  this  her  figure  had  been 
remarkably  good.  On  the  evening  before  she  died,  as 
the  little  Duke  was  sitting  on  her  bed,  she  said  to  him, 
"  My  dear  Berri,  I  love  you  very  much,  but  I  have  paid 

I  This  intrigue  formed  the  groundwork  of  a  little  romance, 
now  become  very  scarce,  called  La  chasse  au  Loup  de  Monseignenr 
le  Dauphin,  OH  la  Rettcontre  du  Comte  du  Roure  dans  ks  Plaines  d'Anet. 
Cologne.     P.  Marteau.     1695. 


THE    FIRST    DAUPHINE  IÖI 

dearly  for  you."  The  Dauphin  was  not  grieved  at  her 
death;  old  Montchevreuil  had  told  him  so  many  lies  of 
his  wife  that  he  could  not  love  her.  That  old  Maintenon 
hoped,  when  this  event  happened,  that  she  should  be 
able  to  govern  the  Duke  by  means  of  his  mistresses, 
which  could  not  have  been  if  he  had  continued  to  be 
attached  to  his  wnfe.  This  old  woman  had  conceived  so 
violent  a  hatred  against  the  poor  Princess,  that  I  do 
believe  she  prevailed  on  Clement  the  accoucheur  to 
treat  her  ill  in  her  confinement ;  and  what  confirms  me 
in  this  is  that  she  almost  killed  her  by  visiting  her  at 
that  time  in  perfumed  gloves.  She  said  it  was  I  who 
wore  them,  which  was  untrue.^  I  would  not  swear  that 
the  Dauphine  did  not  love  Bessola  better  than  her 
husband ;  she  deserved  no  such  attachment.  I  often 
apprized  her  mistress  of  her  perfidy,  but  she  would  not 
believe  me. 

The  Dauphine  used  to  say,  "We  are  two  unhappy 
persons,  but  there  is  this  difference  between  us :  you 
endeavoured,  as  much  as  you  could,  to  avoid  coming 
here  ;  while  I  resolved  to  do  so  at  all  events.  I  have 
therefore  deserved  my  misery  more  than  you." 

They  wanted  to  make  her  pass  for  crazy,  because 
she  was  always  complaining.  Some  hours  before  her 
death  she  said  to  me,  "I  shall  convince  them  to-day  that 
I  w^as  not  mad  in  complaining  of  my  sufferings.^"     She 

1  The  anonymous  notes  to  Dangeau's  Journal  say,  "It  has 
always  been  thought  that  Clement,  her  accoucheur,  hurt  her 
during  her  last  lying-in.  The  Princess  of  Conti  was  also  accused 
of  having  approached  her  too  soon  after  with  strong  perfumes,  the 
effect  of  which  she  did  not  recover." 

2  She  said,  "I  must  die  for  my  own  justification." 


l82  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

died  calmly  and  easily ;  but  she  was  as  much  put  to 
death  as  if  she  had  been  killed  by  a  pistol-shot. 

When  her  funeral  service  was  performed  I  carried 
the  taper  (iwta  bene),  and  some  pieces  of  gold  to  the  Bishop 
who  performed  the  grand  mass,  and  who  was  sitting  in 
an  arm-chair  near  the  altar.  The  prelate  intended  to 
have  given  them  to  his  assistants,  the  priests  of  the 
King's  chapel;  but  the  monks  of  Saint  Denis  ran  to  him 
with  great  eagerness,  exclaiming  that  the  taper  and  the 
gold  belonged  to  them.  They  threw  themselves  upon 
the  Bishop,  whose  chair  began  to  totter,  and  made  his 
mitre  fall  from  his  head.  If  I  had  stayed  there  a  moment 
longer  the  Bishop,  with  all  the  monks,  would  have  fallen 
upon  me.  I  descended  the  four  steps  of  the  altar  in  great 
haste,  for  I  was  nimble  enough  at  that  time,  and  looked 
on  the  battle  at  a  distance,  which  appeared  so  comical 
that  I  could  not  but  laugh,  and  everybody  present  did 
the  same. 

That  wicked  Bessola,  who  had  tormented  the 
Dauphine  day  and  night,  and  had  made  her  distrust 
everyone  who  approached  her,  and  thus  separated  her 
from  all  the  world,  returned  home  a  year  after  her 
mistress's  death.  Before  her  departure  she  played 
another  trick  by  having  a  box  made  with  a  double 
bottom,  in  which  she  concealed  jewels  and  ready  money 
to  the  amount  of  100,000  francs ;  and  all  this  time 
she  went  about  weeping  and  complaining  that  after  so 
many  years  of  faithful  service  she  was  dismissed  as 
poor  as  a  beggar.  She  did  not  know  that  her  con- 
trivance had  been  discovered  at  the  Custom-house  and 
that  the  King  had  been  apprized  of  it.  He  ordered  her 
to  be  sent  for,  showed  her   the  things   which  she  had 


THE    FIRST    DAUPHINE  183 

prepared  to  carry  away,  and  said  he  thought  she  had 
Httle  reason  to  complain  of  the  Dauphine's  parsimony. 
It  may  be  imagined  how  fooHsh  she  looked.  The  King 
added  that,  although  he  might  withhold  them  from  her, 
yet  to  show  her  that  she  had  done  wrong  in  acting 
clandestinely,  and  in  complaining  as  she  had  done,  he 
chose  to  restore  her  the  whole. 


SECT.  XIII. 

ADELAIDE    OF    SAVOY,    THE    SECOND    DAUPHINE. 

The  Queen  of  Spain  stayed  longer  with  her  mother 
than  our  Dauphine,  and  therefore  was  better  educated. 
Maintenon,  who  understood  nothing  about  education, 
permitted  her  to  do  whatever  she  pleased,  that  she  might 
gain  her  affections  and  keep  her  to  herself.  This  young 
lady  had  been  well  brought  up  by  her  virtuous  mother  ; 
she  was  genteel  and  humorous,  and  could  joke  very 
pleasantly  :  when  she  had  a  colour  she  did  not  look  ugly. 
No  one  can  imagine  what  mad-headed  people  were  about 
this  Princess,  and  among  the  number  was  the  Marechale 
d'Estrees.  Maintenon  was  very  properly  recompensed 
for  having  given  her  these  companions  ;  for  the  conse- 
quence was  that  the  Dauphine  no  longer  liked  her 
society.  Maintenon  was  very  desirous  to  know  the 
reason  of  this,  and  teased  the  Princess  to  tell  her.  At 
length  she  did  ;  and  said  that  the  Marechale  d'Estrees 
was  continually  asking  her,  "  What  are  you  always  doing 
with  that  old  woman  ?  Why  do  not  you  associate  with 
folks  who  would  amuse  you  more  than  that  old  skeleton  ?  " 
and  that  she  said  many  other  uncivil  things  of  her. 
Maintenon  told  me  this  herself,  since  the  death  of  the 
Dauphine,  to  prove  that  it  was  only  the  Marechale's 
fault  that  the  Dauphine  had  been  on  such  bad  terms 
with  me.  This  may  be  partly  true  ;  but  it  is  no  less 
certain  that    Maintenon   had  strongly  prepossessed   her 


THE    SECOND    DAUPHINE  185 

against  me.  Almost  all  the  foolish  people  who  were 
about  her  were  the  relations  or  friends  of  the  old  woman ; 
and  it  was  by  her  order  that  they  endeavoured  to  amuse 
her,  and  employ  her  so  that  she  might  want  no  other 
society. 

The  young  Dauphine  was  full  of  pantomime 
tricks.  *  *  *  »  She  was  fond,  too,  of  collecting 
a  quantity  of  young  persons  about  her  for  the  King's 
amusement,  who  liked  to  see  their  sports ;  they,  however, 
took  care  never  to  display  any  but  innocent  diversions 
before  him  :  he  did  not  learn  the  rest  until  after  her 
death.  The  Dauphine  used  to  call  old  Maintenon  her 
aunt,  but  only  in  jest ;  the  fillcs  d'honnetir  called  her  their 
gouvcrnante,  and  the  Marechale  de  La  Mothe,i  mamma ; 
if  the  Dauphine  had  also  called  the  old  woman  her 
mamma,  it  would  have  been  regarded  as  a  declaration  of 
the  King's  marriage ;  for  this  reason  she  only  called  her 
aunt. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  the  Dauphine,  even  when 
she  was  Duchess  of  Burgundy,  should  have  been  a 
coquette.  One  of  Maintenon's  maxims  was  that  there 
was  no  harm  in  coquetry,  but  that  a  grande  passion  only 
was  a  sin.  In  the  second  place,  she  never  took  care  that 
the  Duchess  of  Burgundy  behaved  conformably  to  her 
rank  ;  she  was  often  left  quite  alone  in  her  chateau  with 
the  exception  of  her  people ;  she  was  permitted  to  run 
about  arm-in-arm  with  one  of  her  young  ladies,  without 
esquires,  or  dames  d'honncur  or  d'afoiir.  At  Marly  and 
Versailles  she  was  obHged  to  go  to  chapel  on  foot  and 
without  her  stays,  and  seat  herself  near  the  femmes  de 
chambre.  At  Madame  de  Maintenon's  there  was  no 
I  Madame  de  la  Mothe  was  the  mistress  of  the  ßlles  d'honneur. 


lS6  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

observance  of  ranks  ;  every  one  sat  down  there  pro- 
miscuously ;  she  did  this  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  all 
discussion  respecting  her  own  rank.  At  Marly  the 
Dauphine  used  to  run  about  the  garden  at  night  with 
the  young  people  until  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  The  King  knew  nothing  of  these  nocturnal 
sports.  Maintenon  had  forbidden  the  Duchess  de  Lude 
to  tease  the  Duchess  of  Burgundy,  or  to  put  her  out  of 
temper,  because  then  she  would  not  be  able  to  divert  the 
King.  Maintenon  had  threatened,  too,  with  her  eternal 
vengeance  whoever  should  be  bold  enough  to  complain 
of  the  Dauphine  to  the  King.  It  was  for  this  reason  that 
no  one  dared  tell  the  King  what  the  whole  Court  and 
even  strangers  were  perfectly  well  acquainted  with. 
The  Dauphine  liked  to  be  dragged  along  the  ground  by 
valets,  who  held  her  feet.  These  servants  were  in  the 
habit  of  saying  to  each  other, — "  Come,  shall  we  go  and 
play  with  the  Duchess  of  Burgundy  ?  "  for  so  she  was  at 
this  time. 

She  was  dreadfully  nasty,  *  *  * 


She  made  the  Dauphin  believe  whatever  she  chose,  and 
he  was  so  fond  of  her  that  one  of  her  glances  would 
throw  him  into  an  ecstacy  and  make  him  forget  every- 
thing. When  the  King  intended  to  scold  her  she  would 
put  on  an  air  of  such  deep  dejection  that  he  was  obliged 
to  console  her  instead ;  the  aunt,  too,  used  to  affect 
similar  sorrow,  so  that  the  King  had  enough  to  do  with 
consoling  them  both.  Then,  for  quietness'  sake,  he  used 
to  lean  upon  the  old  aunt,  and  think  nothing  more  about 
the  matter. 


THE    SECOND    DAUPHINE  187 

The  Dauphine  never  cared  for  the  Duke  de  Richelieu, 
although  he  boasted  of  the  contrary,  and  was  sent  to  the 
Bastille  for  it.  She  was  a  coquette,  and  chatted  with 
all  the  young  men  ;  but  if  she  loved  any  of  them  it  was 
Nangis,  who  commanded  the  King's  regiment.  She  had 
commanded  him  to  pretend  to  be  in  love  with  little 
La  Vrilliere,  who,  though  not  so  pretty  nor  with  so 
good  a  presence  as  the  Dauphine,  had  a  better  figure 
and  was  a  great  coquette.  This  badinage,  it  is  said, 
afterwards  became  reality.  The  good  Dauphin  was  like 
the  husbands  of  all  frail  wives,  the  last  to  perceive  it. 
The  Duke  of  Burgundy  never  imagined  that  his  wife 
thought  of  Nangis,  although  it  was  visible  to  all  the 
world  besides  that  she  did.  As  he  was  very  much 
attached  to  Nangis,  he  believed  firmly  that  his  wife 
only  behaved  civilly  to  him  on  his  account ;  and  he  was 
besides  convinced  that  his  favourite  had  at  the  same 
time  an  affair  of  gallantry  with  Madame  la  Vrilliere.^ 

The  Dauphin  had  good  sense,  but  he  suffered  his 
wife  to  govern  him ;  he  loved  only  such  persons  as  she 
loved,  and  he  hated  all  who  were  disagreeable  to  her. 
It  was  for  this  reason  that  Nangis  enjoyed  so  much  of 
his  favour,  and  that  he,  with  all  his  sense,  became  so 
perfectly  ridiculous. 

The  Dauphine  of  Burgundy  was  the  person  whom 
the  King  loved  above  all  others,  and  whom  Maintenon 
had  taught  to  do  whatever  was  agreeable  to  him.  Her 
natural  wit  made  her  soon  learn  and  practise  everything. 
The  King  was  inconsolable  for  her  death;  and  when 
La  Maintenon  saw  that  all  she  could  say  had  no  effect 

I  Madame  de  Caylus  says  she  is  convinced  that  this  intrigue 
never  went  farther  than  fond  glances,  and  some  letters  at  the  most. 


löö  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

upon  his  grief,  it  is  said  that  she  told  the  King  all  that 
she  had  before  concealed  with  respect  to  the  Dauphine's 
life,  and  by  this  means  dissipated  his  great  affliction.^ 

Three  years  before  her  death,  however,  the  Dau- 
phine  changed  greatly  for  the  better ;  she  played  no 
more  foolish  tricks,  and  left  off  drinking  to  excess.  In- 
stead of  that  untameable  manner  which  she  had  before, 
she  became  polite  and  sersible,  kept  up  her  dignity, 
and  did  not  permit  the  younger  ladies  to  be  too  familiar 
with  her,  by  dipping  their  fingers  into  her  dish,  rolling 
upon  the  bed,  and  other  similar  elegancies.  She  used  to 
converse  with  people,  and  could  talk  very  well.  It  was 
the  marriage  of  Madame  de  Berri  that  effected  this  sur- 
prising change  in  the  Dauphine.  Seeing  that  young 
lady  did  not  make  herself  beloved,  and  began  things  in 
the  wrong  way,  she  was  desirous  to  make  herself  more 
liked  and  esteemed  than  she  was.  She  therefore 
changed  her  behaviour  entirely ;  she  became  reserved 
and  reasonable,  and  having  sense  enough  to  discover  her 
defects,  she  set  about  correcting  them,  in  which  she 
succeeded  so  as  to  excite  general  surprise.  Thus  she 
continued  until  her  death,  and  often  expressed  regret 
that  she  had  led  so  irregular  a  life.  She  used  to  excuse 
herself  by  saying  it  was  mere  childishness,  and  that  she 
had  little  to  thank  those  young  ladies  for  who  had  given 
her  such  bad   advice   and  set  her  such  bad  examples. 

I  This  young  lady,  so  fascinating  and  so  dear  to  the  King, 
betrayed,  nevertheless,  the  secrets  of  the  State  by  informing  her  father, 
then  Duke  of  Savoy,  and  our  enemy,  of  all  the  military  projects 
which  she  found  means  to  read.  The  King  had  the  proofs  of  this  by 
the  letters  which  were  found  in  the  Princess's  writing-case  after  her 
death.  "That  little  slut,"  said  he  to  Madame  Malntenon.  "has 
deceived  us." — Meitwircs  de  Dudos,  tome  i. 


THE    SECOND    DAUPHINE  189 

She  publicly  manifested  her  contempt  for  them,  and 
prevailed  on  the  King  not  to  invite  them  to  Marly 
in  future.  By  this  conduct  she  gained  everybody's 
aifection. 

She  was  delicate  and  of  rather  a  weak  constitution. 
Dr.  Chirac  said  in  her  last  illness  that  she  would 
recover;  and  so  she  probably  would  have  done  if  they 
had  not  permitted  her  to  get  up  when  the  measles 
had  broken  out  upon  her,  and  she  was  in  a  copious 
perspiration.  Had  they  not  blooded  her  in  the  foot  she 
might  have  been  alive  now  (1716).  Immediately  after 
the  bleeding  her  skin,  before  as  red  as  fire,  changed  to 
the  paleness  of  death,  and  she  became  very  ill.  When 
they  were  lifting  her  out  of  bed  I  told  them  it  was  better 
to  let  the  perspiration  subside  before  they  blooded  her. 
Chirac  and  Fagon,  however,  were  obstinate  and  laughed 
at  me. 

Old  Maintenon  said  to  me  angrily,  "  Do  you  think 
you  know  better  than  all  these  medical  men  ?  " 

"  No,  Madam,"  I  replied  ;  "  and  one  need  not  know 
much  to  be  sure  that  the  inclination  of  nature  ought  to 
be  followed ;  and  since  that  has  displayed  itself  it  would 
be  better  to  let  it  have  way,  than  to  make  a  sick  person 
get  up  in  the  midst  of  a  perspiration  to  be  blooded." 

She  shrugged  up  her  shoulders  ironically.  I  went 
to  the  other  side  and  said  nothing. 


SECT.  XIV. 

THE    FIRST    DAUPHIN, 

All  that  was  good  in  the  first  Dauphin  came  from 
his  preceptor  ;  all  that  was  bad  from  himself.  He  never 
either  loved  or  hated  anyone  much,  and  yet  he  was  very 
wicked.  His  greatest  pleasure  was  to  do  something  to 
vex  a  person;  and  immediately  afterwards,  if  he  could  do 
something  very  pleasing  to  the  same  person,  he  would  set 
about  it  with  great  willingness.  In  every  respect  he  was 
of  the  strangest  temper  possible  :  when  one  thought  he 
was  good-humoured,  he  was  angry ;  and  when  one 
supposed  him  to  be  ill-humoured,  he  was  in  an  amiable 
mood.  No  one  could  ever  guess  him  rightly,  and  I  do 
not  believe  that  his  like  ever  was  or  ever  will  be  born. 
It  cannot  be  said  that  he  had  much  wit ;  but  still  less 
was  he  a  fool:  nobody  was  ever  more  prompt  to  seize 
the  ridiculous  points  of  anything  in  himself  or  in  others ; 
he  told  stories  agreeably ;  he  was  a  keen  observer,  and 
dreaded  nothing  so  much  as  to  be  one  day  King :  not  so 
much  from  affection  for  his  father,  as  from  a  dread  of  the 
trouble  of  reigning,  for  he  was  so  extremely  idle,  that  he 
neglected  all  things  ;  and  he  would  have  preferred  his 
ease  to  all  the  kingdoms  and  empires  of  the  earth.  He 
could  remain  for  a  whole  day,  sitting  on  a  sofa  or  in  an 
arm-chair,  beating  his  cane  against  his  shoes,  without 
saying  a  word ;  he  never  gave  an  opinion  upon  any 
subject ;  but  when  once,  in  the  course  of  the  year,  he 


THE    FIRST    DAUPHIN  IQI 

did  speak  he  could  express  himself  in  terms  sufficiently 
noble.  Sometimes  when  he  spoke  one  would  say  he 
was  stupidity  itself;  at  another  time  he  would  deliver 
himself  with  astonishing  sense ;  at  one  time  you  would 
think  he  was  the  best  Prince  in  the  world ;  at  another 
he  would  do  all  he  could  to  give  people  pain.  Nobody 
seemed  to  be  so  ill  with  him  but  he  would  take  the  trouble 
of  making  them  laugh  at  the  expense  of  those  most  dear 
to  him.  His  maxim  was,  never  to  seem  to  like  one  man 
in  the  Court  better  than  another.  He  had  a  perfect 
horror  of  favourites,  and  yet  he  sought  favour  himself 
as  much  as  the  commonest  courtier  could  do.  He  did 
not  pride  himself  upon  his  politeness,  and  was  enraged 
when  anyone  penetrated  his  intentions.  As  I  had  known 
him  from  his  infancy  I  could  sometimes  guess  his 
meaning,  which  angered  him  excessively.  He  was  not 
very  fond  of  being  treated  respectfully  ;  he  liked  better 
not  to  be  put  to  any  trouble.  He  was  rather  partial  than 
just,  as  may  be  shown  by  the  regulations  he  made  as  to 
the  rank  of  my  son's  daughter.  He  never  liked  or  hated 
any  Minister.  He  laughed  often  and  heartily.  He  was 
a  very  obedient  son,  and  never  opposed  the  King's  will 
in  any  way,  and  was  more  submissive  to  Maintenon  than 
any  other  person.  Those  who  say  that  he  would  have 
retired  if  the  King  had  declared  his  marriage  with  that 
old  woman,  did  not  know  him  ;  had  he  not  an  old 
mistress^  of  his  own  to  whom  he  was  believed  to  be 
privately  married  ?  What  prevented  Maintenon  from 
being  declared  Queen  was  the  wise  reasons  which  the 
Archbishop  of  Cambray,  M.  de  Fenelon,  urged  to  the 

I  Mademoiselle  de  Chouin. 


192  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

King,  and  for  which  she  persecuted  that  worthy  man  to 
the  day  of  his  death. 

If  the  Dauphin  had  chosen,  he  might  have  enjoyed 
greater  credit  with  his  father.  The  King  had  offered  him 
permission  to  go  to  the  Royal  Treasury  to  bestow  what 
favours  he  chose  upon  the  persons  of  his  own  Court ;  and 
at  the  Treasury  orders  were  given  that  he  should  have 
whatever  he  asked  for.  The  Dauphin  replied  that  it 
would  give  him  so  much  trouble.  He  would  never  know 
anything  about  State  affairs  lest  he  should  be  obliged  to 
attend  the  Privy  Councils,  and  have  no  more  time  to 
hunt.  Some  persons  thought  he  did  this  from  motives 
of  policy  and  to  make  the  King  believe  he  had  no 
ambition  ;  but  I  am  persuaded  it  was  from  nothing  but 
indolence  and  laziness  ;  he  loved  to  live  a  slothful  life, 
and  to  interfere  with  nothing. 

At  the  King  of  Spain's  departure  our  King  wept  a 
good  deal ;  the  Dauphin  also  wept  much,  although  he 
had  never  before  manifested  the  least  affection  for  his 
children.  They  were  never  seen  in  his  apartment  morning 
and  evening.  When  he  was  not  at  the  chase  the  Dauphin 
passed  his  time  with  the  great  Princess  of  Conti,  and 
latterly  with  the  Duchess.  One  must  have  guessed  that 
the  children  belonged  to  him,  for  he  lived  like  a  stranger 
among  them.  He  never  called  them  his  sons,  but  the 
Duke  of  Burgundy,  the  Duke  of  Anjou,  the  Duke  of 
Berri ;  and  they,  in  turn,  always  called  him  Monseigneur. 

I  lived  upon  a  very  good  understanding  with  him  for 
more  than  twenty  years,  and  he  had  great  confidence  in 
me  until  the  Duchess  got  possession  of  him  ;  then  every- 
thing with  regard  to  me  was  changed :  and  as,  after  my 
husband's  death,  I  never  went   to  the   chase  with   the 


THE    FIRST    DAUPHIN  193 

Dauphin,  I  had  no  further  relation  with  him,  and  he 
behaved  as  if  he  had  never  seen  or  known  me.  If  he 
had  been  wise  he  would  have  preferred  the  society  of  the 
Princess  ot  Conti  to  that  of  the  Duchess,  because  the 
first,  having  a  good  heart,  loved  him  for  himself;  while 
the  other  loved  nothing  in  the  world,  and  listened  to 
nothing  but  her  taste  for  pleasure,  her  interest,  and  her 
ambition.  So  that  provided  she  attained  her  ends  she 
cared  little  for  the  Dauphin,  who  by  his  condescension 
for  this  Princess  gave  a  great  proof  of  weakness. 

In  general  his  heart  was  not  correct  enough  to 
discern  what  real  friendship  was  ;  he  loved  only  those 
who  afforded  him  amusement  and  despised  all  others. 
The  Duchess  was  very  agreeable  and  had  some 
pleasant  notions  ;  she  was  fond  of  eating,  which  was  the 
very  thing  for  the  Dauphin,  because  he  found  a  good 
breakfast  at  her  house  every  morning  and  a  collation 
in  the  afternoon.  The  Duchess's  daughters  were  of  the 
same  character  as  their  mother  ;  so  that  the  Dauphin 
might  be  all  the  day  in  the  company  of  gay  people. 

He  was  strongly  attached  to  his  son's  wife;  but 
when  she  quarrelled  with  the  Duchess  her  father-in- 
law  changed  his  opinion  of  her.  What  displeased  him 
besides  v/as  that  the  Duchess  of  Burgundy  married  his 
younger  son,  the  Duke  de  Berri,  against  his  inclina- 
tion. He  was  not  wrong  in  that,  because,  although  the 
marriage  was  to  our  advantage,  I  must  confess  that  the 
Dauphin  was  not  even  treated  with  decency  in  the 
business. 

Neither  of  the  two  Dauphins  or  the  Dauphines  ever 
interested  themselves  much  about  their  children.  The 
King    had    them    educated    without    consulting    them, 

13 


194-  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

appointed  all  their  servants,  and  was  even  displeased  if 
they  interfered  with  them  in  any  way.  The  Dauphin 
knows  nothing  of  good  breeding ;  he  and  his  sons  are 
perfect  clowns. 

The  women  of  La  Halle  had  a  real  passion  for 
the  first  Dauphin ;  they  had  been  made  to  believe 
that  he  would  take  the  part  of  the  people  of  Paris, 
in  which  there  was  not  a  word  of  truth.  The  people 
believed  that  he  was  better  hearted  than  he  was.  He 
would  not,  in  fact,  have  been  wicked  if  the  Marshal 
d'üxelles.  La  Chouin,  and  Montespan,  with  whom  he 
was  in  his  youth  as  well  as  the  Duchess,  had  not  spoiled 
him,  and  made  him  believe  that  malice  was  a  proof 
of  wit. 

He  did  not  grieve  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour  at 
the  death  of  his  mother  or  of  his  wife  ;  and  when  he 
wrapped  himself  up  in  his  long  mourning  cloak  he  was 
ready  to  choke  with  laughter. 

He  had  followed  his  father's  example  in  taking  an 
ugly,  nasty  mistress,  who  had  been  fille  d'honneur  to  the 
elder  Princess  de  Conti:  her  name  is  Mademoiselle  de 
Chouin,  and  she  is  still  living  at  Paris  (1719).  It  was 
generally  believed  that  he  had  married  her  clandestinely ; 
but  I  would  lay  a  wager  that  he  never  did.^  She  had 
the  figure  of  a  duenna  ;  was  of  very  small  stature ;  had 

I  And  yet  it  is  said,  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  day,  that  the  King 
caused  an  apartment  to  be  given  her  at  Versailles,  and  that  when 
she  was  at  Meudon  she  remained  sitting  in  the  presence  of  the 
Dukes  of  Bourbon  and  Berri,  and  spoke  familiarly  of  "the  Duke  and 
the  Duchess."  "The  favourite  of  Meudon,"  says  Duclos,  "had 
all  the  air  and  manner  of  a  mother-in-law ;  and  as  it  was  not  her 
character  to  behave  ill  to  anyone,  it  was  natural  to  believe  the 
reality  of  her  marriage." 


THE    FIRST    DAUPHIN  195 

very  short  legs ;  large  rolling  eyes ;  a  round  face ;  a 
short  turned-up  nose  ;  a  large  mouth  filled  with  decayed 
teeth,  which  made  her  breath  so  bad  that  the  room  in 
which  she  sat  could  hardly  be  endured.  «  * 


And  yet  this  short  fat  woman  had  a  great  deal  of  wit ; 
and  I  believe  the  Dauphin  accustomed  himself  to  take 
snuff  that  he  might  not  be  annoyed  by  her  bad  teeth. 
He  was  very  civil  to  the  Marechal  d'Uxelles,  because  he 
pretended  to  be  the  intimate  with  this  lady ;  but  as  soon 
as  the  Dauphin  was  caught,  the  Marechal  ceased  to  see 
her,  and  never  once  set  foot  in  her  house,  although  before 
that  he  had  been  in  the  habit  of  visiting  her  daily .^ 

The  Dauphin  had  a  daughter  by  Raisin  the  actress, 
but  he  would  never  acknowledge  her,  and  after  his 
death  the  Princess  Conti  took  care  of  her,  and  married 
her  to  a  gentleman  of  Vaugourg.^  The  Dauphin  was  so 
tired  of  the  Duke  du  Maine  that  he  had  sworn  never  to 
acknowledge  any  of  his  illegitimate  children.  This 
Raisin  must  have  had  very  peculiar  charms  to  make  an 
impression  upon  a  heart  so  thick  as  that  of  the  Dauphin, 
who  really  loved  her.  One  day  he  sent  for  her  to 
Choisy,  and  hid  her  in  a  mill  without  anything  to 
eat  or  drink  ;  for  it  was  fast  day,  and  the  Dauphin 
thought  there  was  no  greater  sin  than  to  eat  meat 
on    a   fast    day.      After    the    Court    had    departed,   all 

1  Mademoiselle  Chouin  died  in  1730.  After  the  Dauphin's 
death  she  led  a  very  retired  life,  and  did  much  good  by  her  charity. 
It  is  said  that  she  refused  the  fortune  which  the  Dauphin  had  left 
her  by  his  will. 

2  She  was  called  Mademoiselle  de  Fleuri,  and  died  in  1716,  a 
year  after  her  marriage. 

13—2 


igß  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

that  he  gave  her  for  supper  was  some  salad  and 
toast  with  oil.  Raisin  laughed  at  this  very  much 
herself,  and  told  several  persons  of  it.  When  I  heard  of 
it  I  asked  the  Dauphin  what  he  meant  by  making  his 
mistress  fast  in  this  manner. 

"  I  had  a  mind,"  he  said,  "  to  commit  one  sin,  but 
not  two." 

I  cannot  bear  that  anyone  should  touch  me  behind  ; 
it  makes  me  so  angry  that  I  do  not  know  what  I  do.  I 
was  very  near  giving  the  Dauphin  a  blow  one  day,  for 
he  had  a  wicked  trick  of  coming  behind  one  for  a  joke, 
and  putting  his  fist  in  the  chair  just  where  one  was  going 
to  sit  down.  I  begged  him,  for  God's  sake,  to  leave  off 
this  habit,  which  was  so  disagreeable  to  me,  that  I  would 
not  answer  for  not  one  day  giving  him  a  sound  blow, 
without  thinking  of  what  I  was  doing.  From  that  time 
he  left  me  alone. 

The  Dauphin  was  very  much  like  the  Queen  ;  he 
was  not  tall,  but  good-looking  enough.  Our  King  was 
accustomed  to  say  : — *'  Monseigneur  (for  so  he  always 
called  him)  has  the  look  of  a  German  prince."  He  had, 
indeed,  something  of  a  German  air;  but  it  was  only  the 
air  ;  for  he  had  nothing  German  besides.  He  did  not 
dance  well.  The  Queen-Dowager  of  Spain  flattered 
herself  with  the  hope  of  marrying  him. 

He  thought  he  should  recommend  himself  to  the 
King  by  not  appearing  to  care  what  became  of  his 
brothers. 

When  the  Dauphin  was  lying  sick  of  the  small-pox, 
I  went  on  the  Wednesday  to  the  King. 

He  said  to  me,  sarcastically, — "  You  have  been 
frightening  us  with  the  great  pain  which   Monseigneur 


THE    FIRST    DAUPHIN  I97 

would  have  to  endure  when  the  suppuration  commences 
but  I  can  tell  you  that  he  will  not  suffer  at  all,  for  the 
pustules  have  already  began  to  dry." 

I  was  alarmed  at  this,  and  said, — **  So  much  the 
worse ;  if  he  is  not  in  pain  his  state  is  the  more  dangerous, 
and  he  soon  will  be." 

"  What !  "  said  the  King,  "  do  you  know  better  than 
the  doctors  ?  " 

"  I  know,"  I  replied,  "  what  the  small-pox  is  by  my 
own  experience,  which  is  better  than  all  the  doctors ;  but 
I  hope  from  my  heart  that  I  may  be  mistaken." 

On  the  same  night,  soon  after  midnight,  the  Dauphin 
died. 


SECT.  XV. 

THE  DUKE  OF  BURGUNDY,  THE  SECOND  DAUPHIN. 

He  was  quite  hump-backed.  I  think  this  proceeded 
from  his  having  been  made  to  carry  a  bar  of  iron  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  himself  upright,  but  the  weight  and 
inconvenience  of  which  had  had  a  contrary  effect.  I  often 
said  to  the  Duke  de  BeauvilHers  he  had  very  good  parts, 
and  was  sincerely  pious,  but  so  weak  as  to  let  his  wife 
rule  him  like  a  child.  In  spite  of  his  good  sense,  she 
made  him  believe  whatever  she  chose.  She  lived  upon 
very  good  terms  with  him  ;  but  was  not  outrageously 
fond,  and  did  not  love  him  better  than  many  other 
persons  ;  for  the  good  gentleman  had  a  very  disagreeable 
person,  and  his  face  was  not  the  most  beautiful.  I  believe, 
however,  she  was  touched  with  his  great  affection  for  her; 
and  indeed  it  would  be  impossible  for  a  man  to  entertain 
a  more  fervent  passion  than  he  did  for  his  wife.  Her  wit 
was  agreeable,  and  she  could  be  very  pleasant  when 
she  chose:  her  gaiety  dissipated  the  melancholy  which 
sometimes  seized  upon  the  devout  Dauphin.  Like 
almost  all  hump-backed  men,  he  had  a  great  passion 
for  women  ;  but  at  the  same  time  was  so  pious  that 
he  feared  he  committed  a  grievous  sin  in  looking  at 
any  other  than  his  own  wife  ;  and  he  was  truly  in  love 
with  her.  I  saw  him  once,  when  a  lady  had  told  him 
that  he  had  good  eyes,  squint  immediately  that  he 
might    appear   ugly.      This  was   really  an   unnecessary 


THE    SECOND    DAUPHIN  I99 

trouble ;  for  the  good  man  was  already  sufficiently  plain, 
having  a  very  ill-looking  mouth,  a  sickly  appearance, 
small  stature,  and  a  hump  at  his  back. 

He  had  many  good  qualities :  he  was  charitable,  and 
had  assisted  several  officers  unknown  to  anyone.  He 
certainly  died  of  grief  for  the  loss  of  his  wife,  as  he  had 
predicted.  A  learned  astrologer  of  Turin,  having  cast  the 
nativity  of  the  Dauphine,  told  her  that  she  would  die  in 
her  twenty-seventh  year. 

She  often  spoke  of  it,  and  said  one  day  to  her 
husband,  "The  time  is  approaching  when  I  shall  die: 
you  cannot  remain  without  a  wife  as  well  on  account 
of  your  rank  as  your  piety ;  tell  me,  then,  I  beg  of 
you,  whom  you  will  marry  ?  " 

"  I  hope,"  he  replied,  "  that  God  will  not  inflict  so 
severe  a  punishment  on  me  as  to  deprive  me  of  you ; 
but  if  this  calamity  should  befall  me,  I  shall  not  marry 
again,  for  I  shall  follow  you  to  the  grave  in  a  week." 

This  happened  exactly  as  he  said  it  would ;  for,  on 
the  seventh  day  after  his  wife's  death  he  died  also. 
This  is  not  a  fiction,  but  perfectly  true. 

While  the  Dauphine  was  in  good  health  and  spirits 
she  often  said,  "  I  must  enjoy  myself  now.  I  shall  not 
be  able  to  do  so  long,  for  I  shall  die  this  year." 

I  thought  it  was  only  a  joke,  but  it  turned  out  to  be 
too  true.  When  she  fell  sick  she  said  she  should  never 
recover. 


SECT.   XVI. 


PETITE      MADAME, 


A  CAUTERY  which  had  been  improperly  made  in  the 
nape  of  the  neck  had  drawn  her  mouth  all  on  one  side,  so 
that  it  was  almost  entirely  in  her  left  cheek.  For  this 
reason  talking  was  very  painful  to  her,  and  she  said  very 
little.  It  was  necessary  to  be  accustomed  to  her  way  of 
speaking  to  understand  her.  Just  when  she  was  about 
to  die  her  mouth  resumed  its  proper  place,  and  she  did 
not  seem  at  all  ugly.  I  was  present  at  her  death.  She 
did  not  say  a  word  to  her  father,  although  a  convulsion 
had  restored  her  mouth.  The  King,  who  had  a  good 
heart  and  was  very  fond  of  his  children,  wept  excessively 
and  made  me  weep  also.  The  Queen  was  not  present, 
for  being  then  pregnant  they  would  not  let  her  come. 

It  is  totally  false  that  the  Queen  was  delivered  of  a 
black  child.  The  late  Monsieur,  who  was  present,  said 
that  the  young  Princess  was  ugly,  but  not  black.  The 
people  cannot  be  persuaded  that  the  child  is  not  still 
alive,  and  say  that  it  is  in  a  convent  at  Moret,  near 
Fontainebleau.  It  is,  however,  quite  certain  that  the 
ugly  child  is  dead,  for  all  the  Court  saw  it  die. 

I  Alarie-Therese  de  France,  born  the  2nd  January,  1667,  died 
the  ist  March,  1672. 


HENRIETTA   OF  ENGLAND   HOLDING    THE 

PORTRAIT  OF  HER  HUSBAND,   THE 

DUKE  OF  ORLEANS 


After  the  painting  by  A.  Matthieu,  in  the  gallery  at 
Versailles 


4.„f^^U^»0l/Jy,  ■S"3,-M^.,  f:^ 


^Sf^Oy^^  Ü  ^«u^u* 


SECT.  XVII. 

HENRIETTA   OF    ENGLAND,  THE    FIRST   WIFE    OF    MONSIEUR, 
BROTHER    OF    LOUIS    XIV. 

It  is  true  that  the  late  Madame  was  extremely 
unhappy ;  she  confided  too  much  in  people  who  betrayed 
her :  she  was  more  to  be  pitied  than  blamed,  being 
connected  with  very  wicked  persons,  about  whom  I 
could  give  some  particulars.  Young,  pretty,  and  gay, 
she  was  surrounded  by  some  of  the  greatest  coquettes 
in  the  world,  the  mistresses  of  her  bitterest  foes,  and  who 
sought  only  to  thrust  her  into  some  unfortunate  situa- 
tion and  to  embroil  her  with  Monsieur.  Madame  de 
Coetquen  was  the  Chevalier  de  Lorraine's  mistress, 
although  Madame  did  not  know  it;  and  she  contrived 
that  the  Marshal  de  Turenne  should  become  attached 
to  her.  Madame  having  told  the  Marshal  all  her  secrets 
respecting  the  negotiations  with  England,  he  repeated 
them  to  his  mistress,  Madame  de  Coetquen,  whom  he 
believed  to  be  devoted  to  his  mistress.  This  woman 
went  every  night  to  the  Chevalier  de  Lorraine  and 
betrayed  them  all.  The  Chevalier  used  this  opportunity 
to  stir  up  Monsieur's  indignation  against  Madame, 
telling  him  that  he  passed  with  the  King  for  a  simpleton, 
who  could  not  hold  his  tongue ;  that  he  would  lose  all 
confidence,  and  that  his  wife  would  have  everything  in 
her   own    hand.      Monsieur    wished   to    know    all    the 


202  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

particulars  from  Madame ;  but  she  refused  to  tell  him 
her  brother's  secrets,  and  this  widened  the  breach 
between  them.  She  became  enraged,  and  had  the 
Chevalier  de  Lorraine  and  his  brother  driven  away, 
which  in  the  end  cost  her  own  life :  she,  however,  died 
with  the  consciousness  of  never  having  done  her  husband 
any  harm.  She  was  the  confidante  of  the  King,  to  whom 
it  had  been  hinted  that  it  might  be  expedient  to  give 
some  employment  to  Monsieur,  who  might  otherwise 
make  himself  beloved  in  the  Court  and  in  the  city.  For 
this  reason  the  King  assisted  Madame  in  her  affairs  of 
gallantry,  in  order  to  occupy  his  brother.  I  have  this 
from  the  King  himself.  Madame  was  besides  in  great 
credit  with  her  brother  Charles  II.  (of  England). 
Louis  XIV.  wished  to  gain  him  over  through  his  sister, 
wherefore  it  was  necessary  to  take  part  with  her,  and  she 
was  always  better  treated  than  I  have  been.  The  late 
Monsieur  never  suspected  his  wife  of  infidelity  with  the 
King,  her  brother-in-law,  he  told  me,  all  her  life,  and 
would  not  have  been  silent  with  respect  to  this  intrigue  if 
he  had  believed  it.  I  think  that  with  respect  to  this 
great  injustice  is  done  to  Madame.  It  would  have  been 
too  much  to  deceive  at  once  the  brother  and  the  nephew, 
the  father  and  the  son. 

The  late  Monsieur  was  very  much  disturbed  at  his 
wife's  coquetry ;  but  he  dared  not  behave  111  to  her, 
because  she  was  protected  by  the  King. 

The  Queen-mother  of  England  had  not  brought  up 
her  children  well :  she  at  first  left  them  in  the  society  of 
femmes  de  chambn,  who  gratified  all  their  caprices;  and 
having  afterwards  married  them  at  a  very  early  age,  they 
followed  the  bad  example  of  their  mother.     Both  of  them 


HENRIETTA   OF    ENGLAND  203 

met  with  unhappy  deaths  ;  the  one  was  poisoned,  and  the 
other  died  in  child-birth. 

Monsieur  was  himself  the  cause  of  Madame's 
intrigue  with  the  Count  de  Guiche.  He  was  one  of  the 
favourites  of  the  late  Monsieur,  and  was  said  to  have 
been  handsome  once.  Monsieur  earnestly  requested 
Madame  to  shew  some  favour  to  the  Count  de  Guiche, 
and  to  permit  him  to  wait  upon  her  at  all  times.  The 
Count,  who  was  brutal  to  everyone  else  but  full  of  vanity, 
took  great  pains  to  be  agreeable  to  Madame,  and  to  make 
her  love  him.  In  fact,  he  succeeded,  being  seconded  by 
his  aunt  Madame  de  Chaumont,  who  was  the  gouvernante 
of  Madame's  children.  One  day  Madame  went  to  this 
lady's  chamber,  under  the  pretence  of  seeing  her  children 
but  in  fact  to  meet  De  Guiche,  with  whom  she  had  an 
assignation.  She  had  a  valet  de  chambre  named  Launois, 
whom  I  have  since  seen  in  the  service  of  Monsieur ;  he 
had  orders  to  stand  sentinel  on  the  staircase,  to  give 
notice  in  case  Monsieur  should  approach.  This  Launois 
suddenly  ran  into  the  room,  saying,  "  Monsieur  is  coming 
downstairs." 

The  lovers  were  terrified  to  death.  The  Count 
could  not  escape  by  the  ante-chamber  on  account  of 
Monsieur's  people  who  were  there.  Launois  said, 
•'  I  know  a  way,  which  I  will  put  in  practice 
immediately ;  hide  yourself,"  he  said  to  the  Count, 
"  behind  the  door."  He  then  ran  his  head  against 
Monsieur's  nose  as  he  was  entering,  and  struck  him  so 
violently  that  he  began  to  bleed.  At  the  same  moment 
he  cried  out,  "  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,  I  did  not  think 
you  was  so  near,  and  I  ran  to  open  you  the  door." 

Madame  and  Madame    de  Chaumont  ran  in  great 


204  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

alarm  to  Monsieur,  and  covered  his  face  with  their 
handkerchiefs,  so  that  the  Count  de  Guiche  had  time 
to  get  out  of  the  room,  and  escape  by  the  staircase. 
Monsieur  saw  someone  run  away,  but  he  thought  it  was 
Launois,  who  was  escaping  through  fear.  He  never 
learnt  the  truth. 

What  convinces  me  of  the  late  Madame's  innocence 
is  that,  after  having  received  the  last  sacraments,  she 
begged  pardon  of  Monsieur  for  all  disquiets  she  had 
occasioned,  and  said  that  she  hoped  to  reach  heaven 
because  she  had  committed  no  crime  against  her 
husband. 

I  think  M.  de  Monmouth  was  much  worse  than  the 
Count  de  Guiche  ;  because,  although  a  bastard,  he  was 
the  son  of  Madame's  own  brother ;  and  this  incest 
doubled  the  crime.  Madame  de  Thiange,  sister  of 
Madame  de  Montespan,  conducted  the  intrigue  between 
the  Duke  of  Monmouth  and  Madame. 

It  is  said  here  that  Madame  was  not  a  beauty,  but 
that  she  had  so  graceful  a  manner  as  to  make  all  she  did 
very  agreeable.  She  never  forgave.  She  would  have 
the  Chevalier  de  Lorraine  dismissed ;  he  was  so,  but  he 
was  amply  revenged  of  her.  He  sent  the  poison  by 
which  she  was  destroyed  from  Italy  by  a  nobleman  of 
Provence,  named  Morel :  this  man  was  afterwards  given 
to  me  as  chief  maitre  dliotel,  and  after  he  had  sufficiently 
robbed  me  they  made  him  sell  his  place  at  a  high  price. 
This  Morel  was  very  clever,  but  he  was  a  man  totally 
void  of  moral  or  religious  principle ;  he  confessed  to  me 
that  he  did  not  believe  in  anything.  At  the  point  of 
death  he  would  not  hear  talk  of  God.  He  said,  speaking 
of  himself,  "  Let  this  carcass  alone,  it  is  now  good  for 


HENRIETTA   OF    ENGLAND  205 

nothing."     He  would  steal,  lie,  and  swear  ;   he  was  an 
atheist  and     *  *  *  *  * 


It  is  too  true  that  the  late  Madame  was  poisoned, 
but  without  the  knowledge  of  Monsieur.  While  the 
villains  were  arranging  the  plan  of  poisoning  the  poor 
lady,  they  deUberated  whether  they  should  acquaint 
Monsieur  with  it  or  not.  The  Chevalier  de  Lorraine 
said  "  No,  don't  tell  him,  for  he  cannot  hold  his  tongue. 
If  he  does  not  tell  it  the  first  year  he  may  have  us 
hanged  ten  years  afterwards  " ;  and  it  is  well  known 
that  the  wretches  said,  '*  Let  us  not  tell  Monsieur,  for 
he  would  tell  the  King,  who  would  certainly  hang  us 
all."  They  therefore  made  Monsieur  believe  that 
Madame  had  taken  poison  in  Holland,  which  did  not 
act  until  she  arrived  here.^  It  appears,  therefore,  that 
the  wicked  Gourdon  took  no  part  in  this  affair :  but  she 
certainly  accused  Madame  to  Monsieur,  and  calumniated 
and  disparaged  her  to  everybody. 

It  was  not  Madame's  endive-water  that  d'Effial  had 
poisoned ;  that  report  must  have  been  a  mere  invention, 
for  other  persons  might  have  tasted  it  had  Madame  alone 
drank  from  her  own  glass.  A  valet  de  chamhre  who  was 
with  Madame,  and  who  afterwards  was  in  my  service 
(he  is  dead  now),  told  me  that  in  the  morning,  while 
Monsieur  and  Madame  were  at   Mass,  d'Effial  went  to 

I  It  is  said  that  the  King  sent  for  the  tnaltre  d'lwtel,  and  that 
being  satisfied  that  Monsieur  had  not  been  a  party  to  the  crime,  he 
said,  "Then  I  am  relieved;  you  may  retire."  The  Memoirs  of  the 
day  state  also  that  the  King  employed  the  Chevalier  de  Lorraine  to 
persuade  Monsieur  to  obey  his  brother's  wishes. 


206  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

the  sideboard  and,  taking  the  Queen's  cup,  rubbed  the 
inside  of  it  with  a  paper.  The  valet  said  to  him,  "  Sir, 
what  do  you  do  in  this  room,  and  why  do  you  touch 
Madame's  cup  ?  "  He  answered,  •'  I  am  dying  with 
thirst ;  I  wanted  something  to  drink,  and  the  cup  being 
dirty,  I  was  wiping  it  with  some  paper."  In  the  after- 
noon Madame  asked  for  some  endive-water :  but  no 
sooner  had  she  swallowed  it  than  she  exclaimed  she 
was  poisoned.  The  persons  present  drank  some  of  the 
same  water,  but  not  the  same  that  was  in  the  cup,  for 
which  reason  they  were  not  inconvenienced  by  it.  It 
was  found  necessary  to  carry  Madame  to  bed.  She  grew 
worse,  and  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  she  died  in  great 
pain,  when  the  cup  was  sought  for  it  had  disappeared  and 
was  not  found  until  long  after.  It  seems  it  had  been 
necessary  to  pass  it  through  the  fire  before  it  could  be 
cleaned. 

A  report  prevailed  at  St.  Cloud  for  several  years 
that  the  ghost  of  the  late  Madame  appeared  near  a 
fountain  where  she  had  been  accustomed  to  sit  during 
the  great  heats,  for  it  was  a  very  cool  spot.  One 
evening  a  servant  of  the  Marquis  de  Clerambault  having 
gone  thither  to  draw  water  from  the  fountain,  saw  some- 
thing white  sitting  there  without  a  head.  The  phantom 
immediately  arose  to  double  its  height.  The  poor 
servant  fled  in  great  terror,  and  said  when  he  entered  the 
house  that  he  had  seen  Madam.  He  fell  sick  and  died. 
The  then  captain  of  the  Chateau,  thinking  there  was 
something  hidden  beneath  this  affair,  went  to  the 
fountain  some  days  afterwards,  and  seeing  the  phantom 
he  threatened  it  with  a  sound  drubbing  if  it  did  not 
declare  what  it  was. 


HENRIETTA   OF    ENGLAND  207 

The  phantom  immediately  said,  "Ah,  M.  de  Lastera, 
do  me  no  harm  ;  I  am  poor  old  PhiHpinette." 

This  was  an  old  woman  in  the  village,  seventy-seven 
years  old,  who  had  lost  her  teeth,  had  blear  eyes,  a  great 
mouth  and  large  nose :  in  short,  was  a  very  hideous 
figure.  They  were  going  to  take  her  to  prison,  but  I 
interceded  for  her.  When  she  came  to  thank  me  I 
asked  her  what  fancy  it  was  that  had  induced  her  to  go 
about  playing  the  ghost  instead  of  sleeping. 

She  laughed  and  said,  "  I  cannot  much  repent  what 
I  have  done.  At  my  time  of  life  one  sleeps  little ;  but 
one  wants  something  to  amuse  one's  mind.  In  all  the 
sports  of  my  youth  nothing  diverted  me  so  much  as  to 
play  the  ghost.  I  was  very  sure  that  if  I  could  not 
frighten  folks  with  my  white  dress  I  could  do  so  with  my 
ugly  face.  The  cowards  made  so  many  grimaces  when 
they  saw  it  that  I  was  ready  to  die  with  laughing.  This 
nightly  amusement  repaid  me  for  the  trouble  of  carrying 
a  pannier  by  day." 

If  the  late  Madame  was  better  treated  than  I  was  it 
was  for  the  purpose  of  pleasing  the  King  of  England, 
who  was  very  fond  of  his  sister. 


Madame  de  la  Fayette,  who  has  written  the  life  of  the 
late  Madame,  was  her  intimate  friend ;  but  she  was  still 
more  intimately  the  friend  of  M.  de  la  Rochefoucauld, 
who  remained  with  her  to  the  day  of  his  death.  It  is 
said  that  these  two  friends  wrote  together  the  romance  of 
the  Princess  of  Cleves. 


SECT.  XVIII. 


THE    DUKE    DE    BERRI. 


It  is  not  surprising  that  the  manners  of  the  Duke 
de  Berri  were  not  very  elegant,  since  he  was  edu- 
cated by  Madame  de  Maintenon  and  the  Dauphine  as 
a  valet  de  chamhve.  He  was  obliged  to  wait  upon  the 
old  woman  at  table,  and  at  all  other  times  upon  the 
Dauphine's  ladies,  with  whom  he  was  by  day  and  night. 
They  made  a  mere  servant  of  him,  and  used  to  talk  to 
him  in  a  tone  of  very  improper  familiarity :  saying, 
"  Berri,  go  and  fetch  me  my  work  ;  bring  me  that  table  ; 
give  me  my  scissors." 

Their  manner  of  behaving  to  him  was  perfectly 
shameful.  This  had  the  effect  of  degrading  his  dis- 
position, and  of  giving  him  base  propensities  ;  so  that 
it  is  not  surprising  he  should  have  been  violently  in  love 
with  an  ugly  fcmme  de  chambre.  His  good  father  was 
naturally  of  rather  a  coarse  disposition. 

But  for  that  old  Maintenon,  the  Duke  de  Berri 
would  have  been  hump-backed,  like  the  rest  who  had 
been  made  to  carry  iron  crosses. 

The  Duke  de  Berri's  character  seemed  to  undergo  a 
total  change  ;  it  is  said  to  be  the  ordinary  lot  of  the 
children  in  Paris  that  if  they  display  any  sense  in  their 
youth,  they  become  stupid  as  they  grow  older. 


THE    DUKE    DE    BERRI  209 

It  was  in  compliance  with  the  King's  will  that 
he  married.  At  first  he  was  passionately  fond  of  his 
wife :  but  at  the  end  of  three  months  he  fell  in  love 
with  a  little  ugly  black  fcmme  de  chamhre.  The  Duchess, 
who  had  sufficient  penetration,  was  not  slow  in  dis- 
covering this,  and  told  her  husband  immediately  that  if 
he  continued  to  live  upon  good  terms  with  her  as  he  had 
done  at  first,  she  would  say  nothing  about  it,  and  act  as 
if  she  were  not  acquainted  with  it ;  but  if  he  behaved  ill, 
she  would  tell  the  whole  affair  to  the  King,  and  have  the 
femme  de  chamhre  sent  away,  so  that  he  should  never  hear 
of  her  again.  By  this  threat  she  held  the  Duke,  who 
was  a  very  simple  man,  so  completely  in  check,  that  he 
lived  very  well  with  her  up  to  his  death,  leaving  her  to 
do  as  she  pleased,  and  dying  himself  as  fond  as  ever  of 
the  femme  de  chamhre.  A  year  before  his  death  he  had  her 
married,  but  upon  condition  that  the  husband  should  not 
exercise  his  marital  rights.  He  left  her  pregnant  as  well 
as  his  wife,  both  of  whom  lay-in  after  his  decease. 
Madame  de  Berri,  who  was  not  jealous,  retained  this 
woman,  and  took  care  of  her  and  her  child. 

The  Duke  abridged  his  life  by  his  extreme  intem- 
perance in  eating  and  drinking.  He  had  concealed, 
besides,  that  in  faUing  from  his  horse  he  had  burst  a 
blood-vessel.  He  threatened  to  dismiss  any  of  his 
servants  who  should  say  he  had  lost  blood.  A  number 
of  plates  were  found  in  the  rndle  of  his  bed  after  his 
death.  When  he  disclosed  the  accident  it  was  too 
late  to  remedy  it.  As  far  as  could  be  judged  his 
illness  proceeded  from  gluttony,  in  consequence  of  which 
emetics  were  so  frequently  administered  to  him  that  they 
hastened  his  death. 

14 


2 TO  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

He  himself  said  to  his  confessor,  the  Pere  de  la  Rue, 
"  Ah,  father,  I  am  myself  the  cause  of  my  death !  " 
He  repented  of  it,  but  not  until  too  late.^ 

z  The  Duke  de  Berri  died  on  the  4th  of  May,  1714. 


SECT.  XIX. 


THE   DUCHESS    DE    BERRI. 


My  son  loves  his  eldest  daughter  better  than  all  the 
rest  of  his  children,  because  he  has  had  the  care  of  her 
since  she  was  seven  years  old.  She  was  at  that  time 
seized  with  an  illness  which  the  physicians  did  not  know 
how  to  cure.  My  son  resolved  to  treat  her  in  his  own 
way.  He  succeeded  in  restoring  her  to  health,  and  from 
that  moment  his  love  seemed  to  increase  with  her  years. 
She  was  very  badly  educated,  having  been  always  left 
with  fenimes  de  chambre.  She  is  not  very  capricious,  but 
she  is  haughty  and  absolute  in  all  her  wishes.^  From  the 
age  of  eight  years  she  has  had  entirely  her  own  way,  so 
that  it  is  not  surprising  she  should  be  like  a  headstrong 
horse.  If  she  had  been  well  brought  up,  she  would  have 
been  a  worthy  character,  for  she  has  very  good  sense 
and  a  good  natural  disposition,  and  is  not  at  all  like  her 
mother,  to  whom,  although  she  was  very  severely  treated, 
she   always  did   her   duty.      During   her   mother's   last 

I  Her  pride  led  her  into  all  sorts  of  follies.  She  once  went 
through  Paris  preceded  by  trumpets  and  drums;  and  on  another 
occasion  she  appeared  at  the  theatre  under  a  canopy.  She  received 
the  Venetian  ambassador  sitting  in  a  chair  elevated  upon  a  sort  of 
platform.  This  haughtiness,  however,  did  not  prevent  her  from 
keeping  very  bad  company,  and  she  would  sometimes  lay  aside  her 
singularities  and  break  up  her  orgies  to  pass  some  holy  days  at  the 
Carmelites. 


212  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

illness,  she  watched  her  like  a  hired  nurse.  If  Madame 
de  Berri  had  been  surrounded  by  honest  people,  who 
thought  more  of  her  honour  than  of  their  own  interest, 
she  would  have  been  a  very  admirable  person.  She  had 
excellent  feelings ;  but  as  that  old  woman  (Maintenon) 
once  said,  "  bad  company  spoils  good  manners."  To  be 
pleasing  she  had  only  to  speak,  for  she  possessed  natural 
eloquence,  and  could  express  herself  very  well. 

Her  complexion  is  very  florid,  for  which  she  often 
lets  blood,  but  without  effect ;  she  uses  a  great 
quantity  of  paint,  I  believe  for  the  purpose  of  hiding  the 
marks  of  the  small-pox.  She  cannot  dance,  and  hates 
it ;  but  she  is  well-grounded  in  music,  her  voice  is  neither 
strong  nor  agreeable,  and  yet  she  sings  very  correctly. 
She  takes  as  much  diversion  as  possible ;  one  day  she 
hunts,  another  day  she  goes  out  in  a  carriage,  on  a  third 
she  will  go  to  a  fair ;  at  other  times  she  frequents  the 
rope-dancers,  the  plays,  and  the  operas,  and  she  goes 
everywhere  en  echarpe,  and  without  stays.  I  often  rally 
her,  and  say  that  she  fancies  she  is  fond  of  the  chase,  but 
in  fact  she  only  likes  changing  her  place.  She  cares 
little  about  the  result  of  the  chase,  but  she  likes  boar- 
hunting  better  than  stag-hunting,  because  the  former 
furnishes  her  table  with  black  puddings  and  boars' 
heads. 

I  do  not  reckon  the  Duchess  de  Berri  among  my 
grandchildren.  She  is  separated  from  me,  we  live  like 
strangers  to  each  other,  she  does  not  disturb  herself 
about  me,  nor  I  about  her.     (7th  January,  171 6.) 

Madame  de  Maintenon  was  so  dreadfully  afraid  lest 
the  King  should  take  a  fancy  to  the  Duchess  de  Berri, 
while  the  Dauphine  was  expected,  that  she  did  her  all 


THE    DUCHESS    DE    BERRI  213 

sorts  of  ill  offices.  After  the  Dauphine's  death  she 
repaired  the  wrong ;  but  then,  to  tell  the  truth,  the 
King's  inclination  was  not  so  strong. 

If  the  Duchess  de  Berri  was  not  my  daughter-in-law, 
I  should  have  no  reason  to  be  dissatisfied  with  her;  she 
behaves  politely  to  me,  which  is  all  that  I  can  say. 
(25th  Sept.,  1716.) 

She  often  laughs  at  her  own  figure  and  shape.  She 
has  certainly  good  sense,  and  is  not  very  punctilious. 
Her  flesh  is  firm  and  healthy,  her  cheeks  are  as  hard  as 
stone.  I  should  be  ungrateful  not  to  love  her,  for  she 
does  all  sorts  of  civil  things  towards  me,  and  displays  so 
great  a  regard  for  me  that  I  am  often  quite  amazed  at  it. 
(i2th  April,  1718.) 

She  is  magnificent  in  her  expenditure ;  to  be  sure 
she  can  afford  to  be  so,  for  her  income  amounts  to 
600,000  livres.  Amboise  was  her  jointure,  but  she  pre- 
ferred Meudon. 

She  fell  sick  on  the  28th  March,  171g.  I  went  to 
see  her  last  Sunday,  the  23rd  May,  and  found  her  in  a 
sad  state,  suffering  from  pains  in  her  toes  and  the  soles 
of  her  feet  until  the  tears  came  into  her  eyes.  I  went 
away  because  I  saw  that  she  refrained  from  crying  out 
on  my  account.  I  thought  she  was  in  a  bad  way.  A 
consultation  was  held  by  her  three  physicians,  the  result 
of  which  was  that  they  determined  to  bleed  her  in  the 
feet.  They  had  some  difficulty  in  persuading  her  to 
submit  to  it,  because  the  pain  in  her  feet  was  so  great 
that  she  uttered  the  most  piercing  screams  if  the  bed 
clothes  only  rubbed  against  them.  The  bleeding,  how- 
ever, succeeded,  and  she  was  in  some  degree  relieved. 
It  was  the  gout  in  both  feet. 


214  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

The  feet  are  now  covered  with  swellings  filled  with 
water,  which  cause  her  as  much  pain  as  if  they  were 
ulcers  ;  she  suffers  day  and  night.  Whatever  they  may 
say,  there  has  been  no  other  swelling  of  the  feet  since 
those  blisters  appeared.     (13th  June.) 

The  swelling  has  now  entirely  disappeared,  but  the 
pain  is  greater  than  before.  All  the  toes  are  covered 
with  transparent  blisters ;  she  cries  out  so  that  she  may 
be  heard  three  rooms  off.  The  doctors  now  confess  they 
do  not  know  what  the  disorder  is.  (20th  June.)  The 
King's  surgeon  says  it  is  rheumatic  gout,  (nth  July.) 
I  believe  that  frequent  and  excessive  bathing  and  gluttony 
have  undermined  her  health.^  She  has  two  fits  of  fever 
daily,  and  the  disease  does  not  abate.  She  is  not  im- 
patient nor  peevish ;  the  emetic  given  to  her  the  day 
before  yesterday  causes  her  much  pain  ;  it  seems  that 
from  time  to  time  rheumatic  pains  have  affected  her 
shoulders  without  her  taking  much  notice  of  them. 
From  being  very  fat  as  she  was  she  has  become  thin 
and  meagre.  Yesterday  she  confessed,  and  received  the 
communion.  (i8th  July.)  She  was  bled  thrice  before  she 
took  the  emetic.  (Tuesday,  i8th  July.)  She  received  the 
last  Sacrament  with  a  firmness  which  deeply  affected  her 
attendants.  Between  two  and  three  o'clock  this  night 
(19th  July)  she  died.  Her  end  was  a  very  easy  one; 
they  say  she  died  as  if  she  had  gone  to  sleep.  My  son 
remained  with  her  until  she  lost  all  consciousness,  which 
was  about  an  hour  before  her  death.  She  was  his 
favourite  daughter.      The   poor  Duchess   de   Berri   was 

I  In  her  convalescence,  after  her  lying-in,  she  had  the  impru- 
dence to  give  an  evening  entertainment  to  her  father  in  the  gardens 
at  Meudon  ;  shortly  after  which  she  had  an  attack  of  fever. 


THE    DUCHESS    DE    BERRI  215 

as  much  the  cause  of  her  own  death  as  if  s'le  had  blown 
her  brains  out,  for  she  secretly  ate  melons,  figs,  and 
milk ;  she  herself  confessed,  and  her  doctor  told  me,  that 
she  had  closed  her  room  to  him  and  to  the  other  medical 
attendants  for  a  fortnight  that  she  might  indulge  in  this 
way.  Immediately  after  the  storm  she  began  to  die. 
Yesterday  evening  she  said  to  me  : — "  Oh,  Madame ! 
that  clap  of  thunder  has  done  me  great  harm";  and  it 
was  evident  that  it  had  made  her  worse. 

My  son  has  not  been  able  to  sleep.  The  poor 
Duchess  de  Berri  could  not  have  been  saved ;  her  brain 
was  filled  with  water  ;  she  had  an  ulcer  in  the  stomach 
and  another  in  the  groin ;  her  liver  was  affected,  and 
her  spleen  full  of  disease.  She  was  taken  by  night  to 
St.  Denis,  whither  all  her  household  accompanied  her 
corse.  They  were  so  much  embarrassed  about  her 
funeral  oration  that  it  was  resolved  ultimately  not  to 
pronounce  one. 

With  all  her  wealth  she  has  left  my  son  400,000 
livres  of  debt  to  pay.  This  poor  Princess  was  horribly 
robbed  and  pillaged.  You  may  imagine  what  a  race 
these  favourites  are;  Mouchi,  who  enjoyed  the  greatest 
favour,  did  not  grieve  for  her  mistress  a  single  moment ; 
she  was  playing  the  flute  at  her  window  on  the  very  day 
that  the  Princess  was  borne  to  St.  Denis,  and  went  to  a 
large  dinner  party  in  Paris,  where  she  ate  and  drank  as 
if  nothing  had  happened  ;  at  the  same  time  talking  in  so 
impertinent  a  manner  as  disgusted  all  the  guests.  My 
son  desired  her  and  her  husband  to  quit  Paris. 

My  son's  affliction  is  so  much  the  greater  since  he 
perceives  that  if  he  had  been  less  complying  with  his 
beloved   daughter,   and  if  he   had   exercised  somewhat 


2l6  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

more  of  a  parent's  authority,  she  would  have  been  alive 
and  well  at  this  time. 

That  Mouchi  and  her  lover  Riom  have  been  playing 
fine  tricks  ;  they  had  duplicate  keys,  and  left  the  poor 
Duchess  without  a  sou.  I  cannot  conceive  what  there  is 
to  love  in  this  Riom ;  he  has  neither  face  nor  figure ; 
he  looks,  with  his  green-and-yellow  complexion,  like  a 
water  fiend  ;  his  mouth,  nose,  and  eyes  are  like  those  of 
a  Chinese.  He  is  more  like  a  baboon  than  a  Gascon, 
which  he  is.  He  is  a  very  dull  person,  without  the  least 
pretensions  to  wit ;  he  has  a  large  head,  which  is  sunk 
between  a  pair  of  very  broad  shoulders,  and  his  appear- 
ance is  that  of  a  low-minded  person ;  in  short,  he  is  a 
very  ugly  rogue.  ***** 
******* 

And  yet  the  toad  does  not  come  of  bad  blood ;  he  is 
related  to  some  of  the  best  families.  The  Duke  de 
Lifüzun  is  his  uncle,  and  Biron  his  nephew.  He  is, 
nevertheless,  unworthy  of  the  honour  which  was  conferred 
on  him ;  for  he  was  only  a  captain  in  the  King's  Guard. 
The  women  all  run  after  him;  but,  for  my  part,  I  find 
him  extremely  disagreeable ;  he  has  an  unhealthy  air 
*  *  *      and  looks  like  one  of  the  Indian 

figures  upon  a  screen. 

He  was  not  here  when  Madame  de  Berri  died,  but 
was  with  the  army,  in  the  regiment  which  had  been 
bought  for  him.  When  the  news  of  the  Duchess's  death 
reached  him  the  Prince  of  Conti  went  to  seek  Riom,  and 
sang  a  ridiculous  song,  ^^  Elle  est  mort  la  vache  aux  panier s, 
il  n'en  fatit  pas  plus  parier  "  ;  my  son  was  a  little  vexed  at 
this,  but  he  did  not  take  any  notice  of  it. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Duchess  was  secretly 


THE    DUCHESS    DE   BERRI  217 

married  to  Riom  ;  this  has  consoled  me  in  some  degree 
for  her  loss.  I  had  heard  it  said  before,  and  I  made  a 
representation  upon  the  subject  to  my  grand-daughter. 

She  laughed,  and  repHed  : — "Ah  Madame,  I  thought 
I  had  the  honour  of  being  so  well  known  to  you  that  you 
could  not  believe  me  guilty  of  so  great  a  folly ;  I  who  am 
so  much  blamed  for  my  pride." 

This  answer  lulled  my  suspicions,  and  I  no  longer 
beHeved  the  story.  The  father  and  mother  would  never 
have  consented  to  this  marriage  ;  and  even  if  they  had 
sanctioned  such  an  impertinence  I  never  would  ^  I  The 
toad  had  made  the  Princess  believe  that  he  was  a  Prince 
of  the  House  of  Arragon,  and  that  the  King  of  Spain 
unjustly  withheld  from  him  his  kingdom  ;  but  that  if  she 
would  marry  him  he  could  sue  for  his  claim  through  the 
treaties  of  peace.  Mouchi  used  to  talk  about  this  to  the 
Duchess  from  morning  to  night ;  and  it  was  for  this 
reason  that  she  was  so  greatly  in  favour. 

That  Mouchi  is  the  grand-daughter  of  Monsieur's 
late  surgeon.  Her  mother,  La  Forcade,  had  been 
appointed  by  my  son  the  goiivevnante  of  his  daughter 
and  son,  and  thus  the  young  Forcade  was  brought  up 
with  the  Duchess  de  Berri,  who  married  her  to  Monsieur 
Mouchi,  Master  of  the  Wardrobe  to  the  Duke,  and  gave 
her  a  large  marriage-portion.  While  the  King  lived  the 
Princess  could  not  visit  her  much ;  and  it  was  not  until 
after  his  death  that  she  became  the  favourite,  and  was 
appointed  by  the  Duchess  second  dame  d'atonr. 

I  The  Duchess,  with  her  usual  violence,  teased  her  father  to 
have  her  marriage  made  pubUc  ;  this  was  also  Riom's  most  ardent 
desire,  who  had  married  her  solely  from  ambitious  motives.  The 
Regent  had  despatched  Riom  to  the  army  for  the  purpose  of  gaining 
time.  One  daughter  was  the  result  of  the  connection  between 
Riom  and  the  Duchess  du  Bern,  who  was  afterwards  sent  into 
a  convent  at  Pontolse. 


SECT.   XX. 

MADEMOISELLE    d'oRLEANS,    LOUISE-ADELAIDE    DE 
CHARTRES. 

Mademoiselle  de  Chartres,  Madame  d'Orleans' 
second  daughter,  is  well  made,  and  is  the  handsomest  of 
my  grand-daughters.  She  has  a  fine  skin,  a  superb  com- 
plexion, very  white  teeth,  good  eyes,  and  a  faultless 
shape, but  she  stammers  a  little:  her  hands  are  extremely 
delicate,  the  red  and  white  are  beautifully  and  naturally 
mingled  in  her  skin.  I  never  saw  finer  teeth  ;  they  are 
like  a  row  of  pearls :  and  her  gums  are  no  less  beautiful. 
A  Prince  of  Anhalt  who  is  here  is  very  much  in  love  with 
her ;  but  the  good  gentleman  is  ugly  enough,  so  that 
there  is  no  danger.  She  dances  well,  and  sings  better  ; 
reads  music  at  sight,  and  understands  the  accompani- 
ment perfectly ;  and  she  sings  without  any  grimace. 
She  persists  in  her  project  of  becoming  a  nun ;  but 
I  think  she  would  be  better  in  the  world,  and  do  all  in 
my  power  to  change  her  determination  :  it  seems,  how- 
ever, to  be  a  folly  which  there  is  no  eradicating.  Her 
tastes  are  all  masculine  :  she  loves  dogs,  horses,  and 
riding;  all  day  long  she  is  playing  with  gunpowder, 
making  fusees  and  other  artificial  fireworks.  She  has 
a  pair  of  pistols,  which  she  is  incessantly  firing,  she  fears 
nothing  in  the  world,  and  likes  nothing  which  women 
in  general  like,  she  cares  little  about  her  person,  and  for 
this  reason  I  think  she  will  make  a  good  nun. 


MADEMOISELLE    D  ORLEANS  219 

She  does  not  become  a  nun  through  jealousy  of  her 
sister,  but  from  the  fear  of  being  tormented  by  her 
mother  and  sister,  whom  she  loves  very  much,  and  in 
this  she  is  right.  She  and  her  sister  are  not  fond  of 
their  mother's  favourites,  and  cannot  endure  to  flatter 
them.  They  have  no  very  reverent  notions  either  of 
their  mother's  brother,  and  this  is  the  cause  of  dissen- 
sions. I  never  saw  my  grand-daughter  in  better  spirits 
than  on  Sunday  last ;  she  was  with  her  sister,  on  horse- 
back, laughing,  and  apparently  in  great  glee.  At  eight 
o'clock  in  the  evening  her  mother  arrived;  we  played 
until  supper ;  I  thought  we  were  afterwards  going  to 
play  again,  but  Madame  d'Orleans  begged  me  to  go  into 
the  cabinet  with  her  and  Mademoiselle  d'Orleans ;  the 
child  there  fell  on  her  knees,  and  begged  my  permission, 
and  her  mother's  to  go  to  Chelles  to  perform  her 
devotions.  I  said  she  might  do  that  anywhere,  that  the 
place  mattered  not,  but  that  all  depended  upon  her  own 
heart,  and  the  preparation  which  she  made.  She,  how- 
ever, persisted  in  her  desire  to  go  to  Chelles.  I  said  to 
her  mother : 

"  You  must  decide  whether  your  daughter  shall  go 
to  Chelles  or  not." 

She  replied,  "  We  cannot  hinder  her  performing  her 
devotions.^ " 

So  yesterday  morning  at  seven  o'clock  she  set  off  in 
a  coach ;  she  afterwards  sent  back  the  carriage,  with 
a  letter  to  her  father,  her  mother,  and  myself,  declaring 

I  In  the  Memoirs  of  the  time  it  is  said  that  Mademoiselle  de 
Chartres,  being  at  the  Opera  with  her  mother,  exclaimed,  while 
Caucherau  was  singing  a  very  tender  air,  "Ah  1  my  dear 
Caucherau  I "  and  that  her  mother,  thinking  this  rather  too 
expressive,  resolved  to  send  her  to  a  convent. 


220  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

that  she  will  never  more  quit  that  accursed  cloister.  Her 
mother,  who  has  a  liking  for  convents,  is  not  very  deeply 
afflicted;  she  looks  upon  it  as  a  great  blessing  to  be  a 
nun,  but  for  my  part,  I  think  it  is  one  of  the  greatest 
misfortunes. 

My  son  went  yesterday  to  Chelles,  and  took  with 
him  the  Cardinal  de  Noailles,  to  try  for  the  last  time  to 
bring  his  daughter  away  from  the  convent.  (20th  July, 
1718.) 

My  heart  is  full  when  I  think  that  our  poor 
Mademoiselle  d'Orleans  has  made  the  profession  of  her 
vows.  I  said  to  her  all  I  could,  in  the  hope  of  diverting 
her  from  this  diabolical  project,  but  all  has  been  useless. 
(23rd  August,  1 718.)  I  should  not  have  restrained  my 
tears  if  I  had  been  present  at  the  ceremony  of  her  pro- 
fession. My  son  dreaded  it  also.  I  cannot  tell  for  what 
reason  Mademoiselle  d'Orleans  resolved  to  become  a  nun. 
Mademoiselle  de  Valois  wanted  to  do  the  same  thing,  but 
she  could  not  prevail  upon  her  mother.  In  the  convent 
they  assume  the  names  of  saints.  My  grand-daughter 
has  taken  that  of  Sister  Bathilde ;  she  is  of  the 
Benedictine  order. 

Madame  d'Orleans  has  long  wished  her  daughter  to 
take  this  step,  and  it  was  on  her  account  that  the  former 
Abbess,  Villars'  sister,  was  prevailed  upon  to  quit  the 
convent.  He  is  in  the  interest  of  the  Duke  du  Maine. 
I  do  not  see,  however,  that  his  sister  has  much  to  com- 
plain of,  for  they  gave  her  a  pension  of  12,000  livres 
until  the  first  abbey  should  become  vacant.  Madame 
d'Orleans  is,  however,  vexed  at  the  idea  of  Villars'  sister 
being  obhged  to  yield  to  my  son's  daughter,  which  is, 
nevertheless,  as  it  should  be. 


MADEMOISELLE   D  ORLEANS  221 

Our  Abbess  is  upon  worse  terms  than  ever  with  her 
mother.  She  complains  that  the  latter  never  comes  but 
to  scold  her.  She  does  not  envy  her  sister  her  marriage, 
for  she  finds  herself  very  happy,  and  in  this  she  displays 
great  good  sense. 


SECT.   XXI. 

MADEMOISELLE    DE    VALOIS    CHARLOTTE    AGLAfi,    CONSORT 
OF   THE    PRINCE    OF    MODENA. 

Mademoiselle  de  Valois  is  not  in  my  opinion 
pretty,  and  yet  occasionally  she  does  not  look  ugly.  She 
has  something  like  charms,  for  her  eyes,  her  colour,  and 
her  skin  are  good.  She  has  white  teeth,  a  large  ill- 
looking  nose,  and  one  prominent  tooth,  which  when  she 
laughs  has  a  bad  effect.  Her  figure  is  drawn  up,  her 
head  is  sunk  between  her  shoulders,  and  what,  in  my 
opinion,  is  the  worst  part  of  her  appearance,  is  the  ill 
grace  with  which  she  does  everything.  She  walks  like 
an  old  woman  of  eighty.  If  she  was  a  person  not  very 
anxious  to  please,  I  should  not  be  surprised  at  the 
negligence  of  her  gait ;  but  she  likes  to  be  thought 
pretty.  She  is  fond  of  dress,  and  yet  she  does  not 
understand  that  a  good  mien  and  graceful  manners  are 
the  most  becoming  dress,  and  that  where  these  are 
wanting  all  the  ornaments  in  the  world  are  good  for 
nothing.  She  has  a  good  deal  of  the  Mortemar  family  in 
her,  and  is  as  much  like  the  Duchess  of  Sforza,  the  sister 
of  Montespan,  as  if  she  were  her  daughter ;  the  falsehood 
of  the  Mortemars  displays  itself  in  her  eyes.  Madame 
d'Orleans  would  be  the  most  indolent  woman  in  the 
world  but  for  Mademoiselle  de  Valois,  her  daughter,  who 
is  worse  than  she.  To  me  nothing  is  more  disgusting 
than  a  young  person  so  indolent.     She  cares  little  for 


MADEMOISELLE    DE   VALOIS  223 

me,  or  rather  cannot  bear  me,  and,  for  my  part,  I  care  as 
little  for  a  person  so  educated. 

She  is  not  upon  good  terms  with  her  mother, 
because  she  wanted  to  marry  her  to  the  Prince  de 
Dombes,  the  Duke  du  Maine's  eldest  son.  The  mother 
says  now  reproachfully  to  her  daughter  that  if  she  had 
married  her  nephew  neither  his  father's  nor  his  own 
misfortunes  would  have  taken  place.  She  cannot  bear 
to  have  her  daughter  in  her  sight,  and  has  begged  me  to 
keep  her  with  me. 

My  son  has  agreed  to  give  his  daughter  to  the 
Prince  of  Modena,  at  which  I  very  sincerely  rejoice. 
On  the  day  before  yesterday  (28th  November,  1719)  she 
came  hither  with  her  mother  to  tell  me  that  the  courier 
had  arrived.  Her  eyes  were  swollen  and  red,  and 
she  looked  very  miserable.  The  Duchess  of  Hanover 
tells  me  that  the  intended  husband  fell  in  love  with 
Mademoiselle  de  Valois  at  the  mere  sight  of  her  portrait. 
I  think  her  rather  pretty  than  agreeable.  Her  hawk 
nose  spoils  all,  in  my  opinion.  Her  legs  are  long,  her 
body  stout  and  short,  and  her  gait  shows  that  she  has 
not  learnt  to  dance;  in  fact,  she  never  would  learn. 
Still,  if  the  interior  were  as  good  as  the  exterior,  all  might 
pass  ;  but  she  has  as  much  of  the  father  as  of  the  mother 
in  her,  and  this  it  is  that  I  dislike. 

Our  bride-elect  is  putting,  as  we  say  here,  as  gocd  a 
face  as  she  can  upon  a  bad  bargain ;  although  her 
language  is  gay  her  eyes  are  swollen,  and  it  is  suspected 
that  she  has  been  weeping  all  night.  The  Grand 
Prior,  who  is  also  General  of  the  Gallies,  will  escort 
his  sister  into  Italy.  The  Grand  Duchess  of  Tuscany 
says  that  she  will  not  see  Mademoiselle  de  Valois  nor 


224  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

speak  to  her,  knowing  very  well  what  Italy  is,  and 
believing  that  Mademoiselle  de  Valois  will  not  be  able  to 
reconcile  herself  to  it.  She  is  afraid  that  if  her  niece 
should  ever  return  to  France  they  will  say, — "  There 
is  the  second  edition  of  the  Grand  Duchess " ;  and 
that  every  folly  she  may  commit  towards  her  father- 
in-law  and  husband  they  will  add : — "  Such  are  the 
instructions  which  her  aunt,  the  Grand  Duchess,  has 
given  her."  For  this  reason  she  said  she  would  not  go 
to  see  her. 

The  present  has  come  from  Modena ;  it  does  not 
consist  of  many  pieces;  there  is  a  large  jewel  for  the 
bride,  with  some  very  fine  diamonds,  in  the  midst  of 
which  is  the  portrait  of  the  Prince  of  Modena,  but  it  is 
badly  executed.  This  present  is  to  be  given  on  the  day 
of  the  marriage  and  at  the  signature  of  the  contract  in 
the  King's  presence  ;  this  ceremony  will  take  place  on 
the  nth  (of  February,  1720).  The  nuptial  benediction 
will  be  pronounced  on  Monday,  and  on  Thursday  she 
will  set  off.  I  never  in  my  life  saw  a  bride  more  sorrowful ; 
for  the  last  three  days  she  has  neither  eaten  nor  drunk, 
and  her  eyes  are  filled  with  tears. 

I  have  been  the  prophetess  of  evil,  but  I  have 
prophesied  too  truly.  When  our  Princess  of  Modena 
told  me  that  she  wished  to  go  to  Chelles  to  bid  her  sister 
farewell,  I  told  her  that  the  measles  had  been  in  the 
convent  a  short  time  before,  that  the  Abbess  herself 
had  been  attacked  by  this  disease,  which  was  contagious. 
She  repHed  that  she  would  seek  it.  I  said  such  things 
are  more  easily  found  than  anything  good  ;  you  run  a 
risk  of  your  life,  and  I  recommend  you  to  take  care. 
Notwithstanding  my  advice  she  went  on  Sunday  morning 


MADEMOISELLE    DE    VALOIS  225 

to  Chelles,  and  passed  the  whole  of  the  day  with  her 
sister.  Soon  afterwards  she  found  herself  unwell,  and 
was  laid  up  with  the  measles.  Her  consolation  is  that 
this  illness  retards  her  journey. 

On  the  1 2th  of  March  (1720)  my  son  brought  his 
daughter  to  bid  me  farewell.  She  could  not  articulate  a 
word.  She  took  my  hands,  kissed  and  pressed  them, 
and  then  clasped  her  own.  My  son  was  much  affected 
when  he  brought  her.  They  thought  at  first  of  marrying 
her  to  the  Prince  of  Piedmont.  Her  father  had  given 
her  some  reason  to  hope  for  this  union,  but  he  afterwards 
retracted.^  She  would  have  preferred  marrying  the 
Duke  or  the  Count  de  Charolois,  because  then  she  would 
have  remained  with  her  friends.  Her  father  has  given 
her  several  jewels.  The  King's  present  is  superb,  it 
consists  of  fourteen  very  large  and  fine  diamonds,  to  each 
of  which  are  fastened  round  pearls  of  the  first  water,  and 
together  they  form  a  necklace.  The  Grand  Duchess 
advised  her  niece  well  in  telling  her  not  to  follow  her 
example,  but  to  endeavour  to  please  her  husband  and 
father-in-law.^  The  Prince  of  Modena  will  repair  to 
Genoa  incognito,  because  the  Republic  has  declared  that 
they  will  pay  due  honours  to  his  bride  as  a  Princess  of 
the  blood,  but  not  as  Princess  of  Modena.     They  have 

1  According  to  Duclos  it  was  Madame  herself  who  prevented 
this  marriage  by  writing  to  the  Queen  of  Sicily  that  she  was  too 
much  her  friend  to  make  her  so  worthless  a  present  as  Mademoiselle 
de  Valois.  Duclos  adds  that  the  Regent  only  laughed  at  this  German 
blunder  of  his  mother's. 

2  The  same  author  says,  on  the  contrary,  that  the  Duchess  had 
given  her  niece  the  following  advice  :  "  My  dear,  do  as  I  have  done. 
Have  one  or  two  children  and  try  to  get  back  to  France ;  there  is 
nothing  good  for  us  out  of  that  country." 

15 


226  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

already  begun  to  laugh  here  at  the  amusements  of 
Modena.  She  has  sent  to  her  father  from  Lyons  an 
harangue  which  was  addressed  to  her  by  a  curate.  In 
spite  of  her  father  she  will  visit  the  whole  of  Provence. 
She  will  go  to  Toulon,  La  Ste.  Beaume,  and  I  know  not 
what.  I  believe  she  wishes  to  see  everything  or  any- 
thing except  her  husband.^  It  may  truly  be  said  of  this 
Princess  that  she  has  eaten  her  white  bread  first. 

All  goes  well  at  Modena  at  present,  but  the  too 
charming  brother-in-law  is  not  permitted  to  be  at  the 
petits  soupers  of  his  sister.  The  husband,  it  is  said,  is 
dehghted  with  his  wife ;  but  she  has  told  him  that  he 
must  not  be  too  fond  of  her,  for  that  it  is  not  the  fashion 
in  France,  and  would  seem  ridiculous.  This  declara- 
tion has  not,  as  might  be  guessed,  given  very  great 
satisfaction  is  this  country. 

The  Grand  Duchess  says,  in  the  time  of  the  Queen 
mother's  regency,  when  the  Prince  and  his  brother,  the 
Prince  of  Conti,  were  taken  to  the  Bastille,  they  were 
asked  what  books  they  would  have  to  amuse  themselves 
with  ?  The  Prince  of  Conti  said  he  should  like  to  have 
"The  Imitation  of  Jesus  Christ";  and  the  Prince  of 
Conde  said  he  should  rather  like  "The  Imitation  of  the 
Duke  de  Beaufort,"  who  had  then  just  left  the  Bastille. 

"  I  think,"  added  the  Duchess,  "  that  the  Princess  of 
Modena  will  soon  be  inclined  to  ask  for  'The  Imitation 
of  the  Grand  Duchess.^'  " 

Our  Princess   of   Modena   has   found   her  husband 

I  She  performed  her  journey  so  slowly  that  the  Prince  com- 
plained of  it,  and  the  Regent  was  obliged  to  order  his  daughter  to  go 
directly  to  the  husband,  who  was  expecting  her. 

2  The  Princess  of  Modena  did,  in  fact,  go  back  to  France, 
and  remained  there  for  the  rest  of  her  life. 


MADEMOISELLE    DE    VALOIS  227 

handsomer  and  likes  him  better  than  she  thought  she 
should;  she  has  even  become  so  fond  of  him,  that  she 
has  twice  kissed  his  hands ;  a  great  condescension  for  a 
person  so  proud  as  she  is,  and  who  fancies  that  there  is 
not  her  equal  on  the  earth. 

The  Duke  of  Modena  is  a  very  strange  person  in  all 
matters.  His  son  and  his  son's  wife  have  requested  him 
to  get  rid  of  Salvatico,  who  has  been  here  in  the  quality 
of  envoy.  This  silly  person  made  on  the  journey  a 
declaration  in  form  of  his  love  for  the  Princess,  and 
threatened  her  with  all  sorts  of  misfortune  if  she  did 
not  accept  his  love.     He  began  his  declaration  with, — 

"Ah!  ah!  ah!  Madame,  ah!  ah!  ah!  Madame." 

The  Princess  interrupted  him;  "What  do  you  mean 
with  your  ahs!" 

He  replied,  "Ah!  the  Prince  of  Modena  is  under 
great  obligations;  I  have  made  him  happy." 

He  had  begun  the  same  follies  here,  and  was  in  the 
habit  of  entering  the  Princess's  chamber  at  all  times, 
and  he  even  had  the  impudence  to  be  jealous.  The 
Princess  complained  of  him  to  her  husband,  and  he 
told  his  father  of  it,  begging  him  to  send  the  rogue 
away ;  but  the  father  was  so  far  from  complying  that 
he  wanted  to  make  Salvatico  his  major-domo.  Upon 
the  whole,  I  think  that  Salvatico's  love  for  our  Prin- 
cess of  Modena  is  fortunate  for  her;  for,  having  learnt 
all  that  had  passed  here,^  he  might  have  made  incon- 

I  Mademoiselle  de  Valois  had  an  amorous  intrigue  with  the 
Duke  de  Richelieu ;  and  it  is  said  that  she  only  consented  to  marry 
the  Prince  of  Modena  upon  condition  that  her  father,  the  Regent, 
would  set  her  husband  at  liberty.  Madame  had  intimated  to  the 
Duke  de  Richelieu  that  if  he  approached  the  places  where  her 
grand-daughter  was  with  her,  his  life  would  be  in  great  peril. 

15—2 


228  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

venient  reports:  he  would,  however,  perhaps  have  done 
it  in  vain,  for  the  Prince  would  not  have  beheved  him. 
Salvaticc  is  quite  crazy.  He  is  the  declared  favourite 
of  the  Duke  of  Modena,  which  verifies  the  German 
proverb,  "Like  will  to  like,  as  the  devil  said  to  the 
collier." 

The  Prince  and  Princess  are  very  fond  of  each 
other ;  but  it  is  said  they  join  in  ridiculing  the  old  father 
(2nd  August,  1720).  The  Princess  goes  about  all  day 
from  room  to  room,  crying  "  How  tired  I  am,  hov/ 
tiresome  everything  is  here!"  She,  however,  lives  a 
little  better  with  her  husband  than  at  the  beginning. 


SECT.  XXII. 

THE    ILLEGITIMATE    CHILDREN    OF    THE    REGENT,    DUKE    OF 
ORLEANS. 

My  son  has  three  illegitimate  children,  two  boys  and 
a  girl;  but  only  one  of  them  is  legitimated,  that  is,  his 
son  by  Mademoiselle  de  Seri,  a  lady  of  noble  family,  and 
who  was  my  maid  of  honour.     The  younger  Margrave  of 
Anspach  was  also  in  love  with  her.     This  son  is  called 
the  Chevalier  d'Orleans.      The  other,  who  is  now  (1716) 
about  eighteen   years  old,  is  an  abbe ;    he    is  the   son 
of  La   Florence,   a   dancer    at   the   Opera-house.     The 
daughter  is  by  Desmarets,  the  actress.     My  son  says, 
that  the  Chevalier  d'Orleans  is  more  unquestionably  his 
than  any  of  the  others;  but  to  tell  the  truth,  I  think  the 
Abbe  has  a  stronger  family  likeness  to  my  son  than  the 
Chevalier,  who  is  like  none  of  them.      I  do  not  know 
where  my  son  found  him  :    he  is  a  good  sort  of  person, 
but  he  has  neither  elegance  nor  beauty.     It  is  a  great 
pity  that  the  Abbe  is  illegitimate:  he  is  well  made;  his 
features  are  not  bad ;  he  has  very  good  talents,  and  has 
studied  much.^     He  is  a  good  deal  like  the  portraits  of 
the  late  Monsieur  in  his  youth,  only  that  he  is  bigger. 
When  he  stands  near  Mademoiselle  de  Valois  it  is  easy 
to   see  that  they  belong   to   the  same  father.     My  son 


I  Duclos  says  that  this  eleve  of  the  Jesuits  was,  nevertheless, 
the  most  zealous  ignoramus  that  ever  their  school  produced. 


230  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

purchased  for  the  Chevalier  d'Orleans  the  office  of 
General  of  the  Gallies  from  the  Marshal  de  Tasse.  He 
intends  to  make  him  a  Knight  of  Malta,  so  that  he  may- 
live  unmarried,  for  my  son  does  not  wish  to  have 
the  illegitimate  branches  of  his  family  extended.  The 
Chevalier  does  not  want  wit ;  but  he  is  a  little  satirical,  a 
habit  which  he  takes  from  his  mother. 

My  son  will  not  recognize  the  Abbe  Saint-Albin, 
on  account  of  the  irregular  life  which  his  mother, 
La  Florence,  has  led.  He  fears  being  laughed  at  for 
acknowledging  children  so  different.  The  Abbe  Dubois 
was  a  chief  cause  too  why  my  son  would  not  acknow- 
ledge this  son.  It  was  because  the  Abbe,  aspiring  to  the 
Cardinal's  hat,  was  jealous  of  everyone  who  might  be  a 
competitor  with  him.  I  love  this  Abbe  Saint-Albin.  In 
the  first  place  because  he  is  attached  to  me,  and  in  the 
second  because  he  is  really  very  clever ;  he  has  wit  and 
sense  with  none  of  the  mummery  of  priests.  My  son 
does  not  esteem  him  half  so  much  as  he  deserves,  for  he 
is  one  of  the  best  persons  in  the  world  :  he  is  pious  and 
virtuous,  learned  in  every  point,  and  not  vain.  It  is  in 
vain  for  my  son  to  deny  him  ;  anyone  may  see  of  what 
race  he  comes,  and  I  am  sorry  that  he  is  not  legitimated. 
My  son  is  much  more  fond  of  Seri's  son. 

The  poor  Abbe  de  Saint-Albin  is  grieved  to  death  at 
not  being  acknowledged  ;  while  Fortune  smiles  upon  his 
elder  brother  he  is  forgotten,  despised,  and  has  no  rank; 
he  seeks  only  to  be  legitimated.  I  console  him  as  well 
as  I  can ;  but  why  should  I  tease  my  son  about  the 
business.^     It  would  only  put  him  in  the  way  of  greater 

I  The  Abbe  de  Saint  Albin  was  appointed  Bishop  of  Laon,  and 
after  Dubois'  death  Archbishop  of  Cambrai.     When  he  wished  to 


THE    regent's    illegitimate    CHILDREN  23I 

inconveniences,  for  as  he  has  also  several  children  by 
Parabere,  she  would  be  no  less  desirous  that  he  should 
legitimate  hers.     This  consideration  ties  my  tongue. 

The  daughter  of  the  actress  Desmarets  is  somewhat 
like  her  mother,  but  she  is  like  no  one  else.  She  was 
educated  in  a  convent  at  Saint  Denis,  but  had  no  liking 
for  a  nun's  life.  When  my  son  had  her  first  brought  to 
him  she  did  not  know  who  she  was.  When  my  son 
told  her  he  was  her  father  she  was  transported  with  joy, 
fancying  that  she  was  the  daughter  of  Seri  and  sister  to 
the  Chevalier;  she  thought,  too,  that  she  would  be 
legitimated  immediately:  when  my  son  told  her  that 
could  not  be  done,  and  that  she  was  Desmarets' 
daughter,  she  wept  excessively.  Her  mother  had  never 
been  permitted  to  see  her  in  the  convent ;  the  nuns 
would  not  have  allowed  it,  and  her  presence  would 
have  been  injurious  to  the  child.  From  the  time  she 
was  born  her  mother  had  not  seen  her  until  the  present 
year  (1719),  when  she  saw  her  in  a  box  at  the  theatre, 
and  wept  for  joy.  My  son  married  this  girl  to  the 
Marquis  de  Segur. 

An  actress  at  the  Opera  House,  called  Mdlle. 
d'Use,  who  is  since  dead,  was  in  great  favour  with  my 
son,  but  that  did  not  last  long.  At  her  death  it 
appeared  that,  although  she  had  had  several  children, 
neither  she  nor  her  mother  nor  her  grandmother  had 
ever  been  married. 

become  a  member  of  the  Parliament  he  could  not  give  the  names 
either  of  his  father  or  mother ;  he  had  been  baptised  in  the  name  of 
Cauche,  the  Regent's  vakt  de  chambn  and  purveyor. 


SECT.   XXIIL 

THE    CHEVALIER    DE    LORRAINE. 

The  Chevalier  de  Lorraine  looked  very  ill,  but  it 
was  in  consequence  of  his  excessive  debauchery,  for  he 
had  once  been  a  handsome  man.  He  had  a  well-made 
person,  and  if  the  interior  had  answered  to  the  exterior 
I  should  have  had  nothing  to  say  against  him.  He  was, 
however,  a  very  bad  man,  and  his  friends  were  no  better 
than  he.  Three  or  four  years  before  my  husband's 
death,  and  for  his  satisfaction,  I  was  reconciled  with 
the  Chevalier,  and  from  that  time  he  did  me  no  mischief. 
He  was  always  before  so  much  afraid  of  being  sent 
away  that  he  used  to  tell  Monsieur  he  ought  to  know 
what  I  was  saying  and  doing,  that  he  might  be  apprised 
of  any  attempt  that  should  be  made  against  the  Chevalier 
or  his  creatures. 

He  died  so  poor  that  his  friends  were  obliged  to  bury 
him;  yet  he  had  100,000  crowns  of  revenue,  but  he  was 
so  bad  a  manager  that  his  people  always  robbed  him. 
Provided  they  would  supply  him  when  he  wanted  them 
with  a  thousand  pistoles  for  his  pleasures  or  his  play,  he 
let  them  dispose  of  his  property  as  they  thought  fit. 
That  Grancei  drew  large  sums  from  him.  He  met  with 
a  shocking  death.  He  was  standing  near  Madame  de 
Mare,  Grancei's  sister,  and  telHng  her  that  he  had  been 
sitting  up  at  some  of  his  extravagant  pleasures  all  night, 


THE    CHEVALIER    DE    LORRAINE  233 

and  was  uttering  the  most  horrible  expressions,  when 
suddenly  he  was  stricken  with  apoplexy,  lost  the  power 
of  speech,  and  shortly  afterwards  expired.^ 


I  He  died  suddenly  in  his  own  house  playing  at  ombre,  as 
many  of  his  family  had  done,  and  was  regretted  by  no  person  except 
Mdlle.  de  Lillebonne,  to  whom  he  was  believed  to  have  been 
privately  married. — Note  to  Dangeau's  Journal.  This  man,  who  was 
suspected  of  having  poisoned  the  King's  sister-in-law,  was 
nevertheless  in  the  possession  of  four  abbeys,  the  revenues  of 
which  defrayed  the  expense  of  his  debaucheries. 


SECT.  XXIV. 

THE    DUCHESS    LOUISE    FRANCISQUE,    CONSORT    OF 
LOUIS    III.,    DUKE    OF    BOURBON. 

I  KNEW  a  German  gentleman  who  has  now  been 
dead  a  long  time  (171 8),  who  has  sworn  to  me  positively 
that  the  Duchess  is  not  the  daughter  of  the  King  but 
of  Marshal  de  Noailles.  He  noted  the  time  at  which 
he  saw  the  Marshal  go  into  Montespan's  apartment, 
and  it  was  precisely  nine  months  from  that  time  that 
the  Duchess  came  into  the  world.  This  German,  whose 
name  was  Bettendorf,  was  a  brigadier  in  the  Body 
Guard  ;  and  he  was  on  guard  at  Montespan's  when  the 
captain  of  the  first  company  paid  this  visit  to  the  King's 
mistress. 

The  Duchess  is  not  prettier  than  her  daughters,  but 
she  has  more  grace  ;  her  manners  are  more  fascinating 
and  agreeable  ;  her  wit  shines  in  her  eyes,  but  there  is 
some  malignity  in  them  also.  I  always  say  she  is  like  a 
very  pretty  cat,  which,  while  you  play  with  it,  lets  you 
feel  it  has  claws.  No  person  has  a  better  carriage  of 
the  head.  It  is  impossible  to  dance  better  than  the 
Duchess  and  her  daughters  can ;  but  the  mother  dances 
the  best.  I  do  not  know  how  it  is,  but  even  her  lameness 
is  becoming  to  her. 

The  Duchess  has  the  talent  of  saying  things  in  so 
pleasant  a  manner  that  one  cannot  help  laughing.  She 
is  very  amusing  and  uncommonly  good  company  ;    her 


HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS  ^35 

notions  are  so  very  comical.  When  she  wishes  to  make 
herself  agreeable  to  anyone  she  is  very  insinuating,  and 
can  take  all  shapes ;  if  she  were  not  also  treacherous  one 
might  say  truly  that  nobody  is  more  amiable  than  the 
Duchess  ;  she  understands  so  well  how  to  accommodate 
herself  to  people's  peculiar  habits  that  one  would  believe 
she  takes  a  real  interest  in  them  ;  but  there  is  nothing 
certain  about  her.  Although  her  sense  is  good,  her  heart 
is  not.  Notwithstanding  her  ambition  she  seems  at  first 
as  if  she  thought  only  of  amusing  and  diverting  herself 
and  others  ;  and  she  can  feign  so  skilfully  that  one  would 
think  she  had  been  very  agreeably  entertained  in  the 
society  of  persons,  whom  immediately  upon  her  return 
home  she  will  ridicule  in  all  possible  ways. 

La  Mailly  complained  to  her  aunt,  old  Maintenon, 
that  her  husband  was  in  love  with  the  Duchess ;  but  this 
husband,  having  afterwards  been  captivated  by  an  actress 
named  Bancour,  gave  up  to  her  all  the  Duchess's  letters, 
for  which  he  was  an  impertinent  rascal.  The  Duchess 
wrote  a  song  upon  Mailly,  in  which  she  reproached  her, 
notwithstanding  her  airs  of  prudery,  with  an  infidelity 
with  Villeroi,  a  Serjeant  of  the  Guard. 

In  the  Duchess's  house  malice  passes  for  wit,  and 
therefore  they  are  under  no  restraint.  The  three  sisters : 
the  Duchess,  the  Princess  of  Conti,  and  Madame 
d'Orleans,  behave  to  each  other  as  if  they  were  not 
sisters. 

The  Princess  is  a  very  virtuous  person,  and  is  much 
displeased  at  her  daughter-in-law's  manner  of  life,  for 
Lasse  is  with  her  by  day  and  by  night,  at  the  play,  at 
the  Opera,  in  visits,  everywhere  Lasse  is  seen  with  her. 


SECT.  XXIV. 


PHILIP    v.,    KING    OF    SPAIN. 


Louis  XIV.  wept  much  when  his  grandson  set  out 
for  Spain.  I  could  not  help  weeping,  too.  The  King 
accompanied  him  as  far  as  Sceaux.  The  tears  and 
lamentations  in  the  drawing-room  were  irresistible.  The 
Dauphin  was  also  deeply  affected. 

The  King  of  Spain  is  very  hunch-backed,  and  is  not 
in  other  respects  well  made  ;  but  he  is  bigger  than  his 
brothers.  He  has  the  best  mien,  good  features,  and  fine 
hair.  What  is  somewhat  singular,  although  his  hair  is 
very  light,  his  eyes  are  quite  black ;  his  complexion  is 
clear  red  and  white;  he  has  an  Austrian  mouth;  his 
voice  is  deep,  and  he  is  singularly  slow  in  speaking.  He 
is  a  good  and  peaceable  sort  of  a  person,  but  a  little 
obstinate  when  he  takes  it  in  his  head.  He  loves  his 
wife  above  all  things,  leaves  all  affairs  to  her,  and  never 
interferes  in  anything.  He  is  very  pious,  and  believes 
he  should  be  damned  if  he  committed  any  matrimonial 
infidelity.  But  for  his  devotion  he  would  be  a  libertine, 
for  he  is  addicted  to  women,  and  it  is  for  this  reason 
he  is  so  fond  of  his  wife.  He  has  a  very  humble  opinion 
of  his  own  merit.  *  %  ■•a  He  is  very  easily 
led,  and  for  this  reason  the  Queen  will  not  lose  sight  of 
him.  He  receives  as  current  truths  whatever  is  told  him 
by  persons  to  whom  he  is  accustomed,  and  never  thinks 
of  doubting.  The  good  gentleman  ought  to  be  surrounded 


THE    KIiNG    OF   SPAIN  237 

by  competent  persons,  for  his  own  wit  would  not  carry 
him  far ;  but  he  is  of  a  good  disposition,  and  is  one  of 
the  quietest  men  in  the  world.  He  is  a  Httle  melancholy, 
and  there  is  nothing  in  Spain  to  make  him  gay. 

He  must  know  people  before  he  will  speak  to  them 
at  all :  if  you  desire  him  to  talk  you  must  tease  him  and 
rally  him  a  Httle,  or  he  will  not  open  his  mouth.  I  have 
seen  Monsieur  very  impatient  at  his  talking  to  me  while 
he  could  not  get  a  word  from  him.  Monsieur  did  not 
take  the  trouble  to  talk  to  him  before  he  was  a  King,  and 
then  he  wished  him  to  speak  afterwards;  that  did  not 
suit  the  King.  He  was  not  the  same  with  me.  In  the 
apartment,  at  table,  or  at  the  play,  he  used  to  sit  beside 
me.  He  was  very  fond  of  hearing  tales,  and  I  used  to 
tell  them  to  him  for  whole  evenings  :  this  made  him  well 
accustomed  to  me,  and  he  had  always  something  to  ask 
me.  I  have  often  laughed  at  the  answer  he  made  me 
when  I  said  to  him, — 

"  Come,  Monsieur,  why  do  not  you  talk  to  your  uncle, 
who  is  quite  distressed  that  you  never  speak  to  him  ?  " 

"  What  shall  I  say  to  him  ?  "  he  replied,  "  I  scarcely 
know  him." 

It  is  quite  true  that  the  Queen  of  Spain  was  at  first 
very  fond  of  the  Princess  des  Ursins,  and  that  she 
grieved  much  when  that  Princess  was  dismissed  for  the 
first  time.  The  story  that  is  told  of  the  Confessor  is  also 
very  true ;  only  one  circumstance  is  wanting  in  it,  that 
is,  that  the  Duke  de  Grammont,  then  ambassador,  played 
the  part  of  the  Confessor,  and  it  was  for  this  reason  he 
was  recalled. 

The  Queen  had  one  certain  means  of  making  the 
King  do  whatever  she  wished.     The  good  gentleman 


238  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

was  exceedingly  fond  of  her,  and  this  fondness  she 
turned  to  good  account.  She  had  a  small  truckle  bed 
in  her  room,  and  when  the  King  would  not  comply  with 
any  of  her  requests  she  used  to  make  him  sleep  in  this 
bed ;  but  when  she  was  pleased  with  him  he  was 
admitted  to  her  own  bed ;  which  was  the  very  summit 
of  happiness  to  the  poor  King.  After  the  Princess  des 
Ursins  had  departed,  the  King  recalled  the  Confessor 
from  Rome,  and  kept  him  near  his  own  person  (17 18). 

The  King  of  Spain  can  never  forgive,  and  Madame 
des  Ursins  has  told  him  so  many  lies  to  my  son's  dis- 
advantage that  the  King  can  never,  while  he  lives,  be 
reconciled  to  him. 

Rebenac's^  passion  for  the  late  Queen  of  Spain  was 
of  no  disadvantage  to  her  ;  she  only  laughed  at  it,  and 
did  not  care  for  him.  It  was  the  Count  de  Mansfeld, 
the  man  with  the  pointed  nose,  who  poisoned  her.  He 
bought  over  two  of  her  French  femmes  de  chamhve  to  give 
her  poison  in  raw  oysters  ;  and  they  afterwards  withheld 
from  her  the  antidote  which  had  been  entrusted  to  their 
care. 

The  Queen  of  Spain,  daughter  of  the  first  Madame,^ 
died  in  precisely  the  same  manner  as  she  did,  and  at 
the  same  age,  but  in  a  much  more  painful  manner,  for 
the  violence  of  the  poison  was  such  as  to  make  her 
nails  fall  off. 


1  Francois  de  Feuquieres,  called  the  Count  de  Rebenac,  Extra- 
ordinary Ambassador  to  Spain. 

2  Henrietta  of  England. 


SECT.   XXVI. 


THE    YOUNGER     DUCHESS. 


The  Duke's  wife  is  not  an  ill-looking  person :  she 
has  good  eyes,  and  would  be  very  well  if  she  had 
not  a  habit  of  stretching  and  poking  out  her  neck. 
Her  shape  is  horrible ;  she  is  quite  crooked ;  her  back 
is  curved  into  the  form  of  an  S.  I  observed  her  one 
day  through  curiosity,  when  the  Dauphine  was  helping 
her  to  dress. 

She  is  a  wicked  devil ;  treacherous  in  every  way, 
and  of  a  very  dangerous  temper.  Upon  the  whole, 
she  is  not  good  for  much.  Her  falsehood  was  the 
means  of  preventing  the  Duke  from  marrying  one  of 
my  grand -daughters.  Being  the  intimate  friend  of 
Madame  de  Berri,  who  was  very  desirous  that  one 
of  her  sisters  should  marry  the  Duke  and  the  other 
the  Prince  of  Conti,  she  promised  to  bring  about  the 
marriage,  provided  Madame  de  Berri  would  say 
nothing  of  it  to  the  King  or  to  me.  After  having 
imposed  this  condition,  she  told  the  King  that  Madame 
de  Berri  and  my  son  were  planning  a  marriage  without 
his  sanction ;  in  order  to  punish  them  she  begged  the 
King  to  marry  the  Duke  to  herself,  which  was  actually 
done. 

Thanks  to  her  good  sense,  she  lives  upon  tolerable 
terms  with  her  husband,  although  he  has  not  much 
affection    for    her.      Each    of    them    follow    their    own 


240  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

inclinations ;  they  are  not  at  all  jealous  of  each  other, 
and  it  is  said  they  have  separate  beds. 

She  causes  a  great  many  troubles  and  embarrass- 
ments to  her  relation  the  young  Princess  of  Conti,  and 
perfectly  understands  tormenting  folks. 

The  young  Duchess  died  yesterday  evening 
(22nd  March,  1720).  The  Duke's  joy  at  the  death 
of  his  wife  will  be  greatly  diminished  when  he  learns 
that  she  has  bequeathed  to  her  sister,  Mademoiselle  de  la 
Roche-sur-Yon,  all  her  property  ;  and  as  the  husband 
and  wife  lived  according  to  the  custom  of  Paris,  en 
conwmnatUe,  the  Duke  will  be  obliged  to  refund  the 
half  of  all  he  gained  by  Law's  bank. 

After  the  death  of  the  younger  Duchess,  the 
Princess  of  Conti,  her  mother,  wrote  to  a  Chevalier 
named  Du  Challar,  who  was  the  lover  of  the  deceased, 
to  beg  him  to  come  and  see  her,  as  he  was  the  only 
object  left  connected  with  her  daughter,  and  assuring 
him  that  he  might  reckon  upon  her  services  in  every- 
thing that  depended  upon  her.  It  was  the  younger 
Duchess  who  was  so  fond  of  Lasse,  and  who  had  been 
so  familiar  with  him  at  a  masked  ball. 

I  recognized  only  two  good  qualities  in  her :  her 
respect  and  affection  for  her  grandmother  the  Princess 
and  the  skill  with  which  she  concealed  her  faults. 
Beside  this,  she  was  good  for  nothing  in  whatever  way 
her  character  is  regarded.  That  she  was  treacherous 
is  quite  certain ;  and  she  shortened  her  life  by  her 
improper  conduct.  She  neither  loved  nor  hated  her 
husband,  and  they  lived  together  more  hke  brother 
and  sister  than  husband  and  wife. 

The  Elector  of  Bavaria  during  his  stay  at  Paris, 


PHILIP  V  OF  SPAIN 
{PHILIP  OF  FRANCE,  DUKE   OF  ANJOU) 

After  the  painting  by  Rigaud  y  Ros,  in    the  Lonvn 


THE    YOUNGER    DUCHESS  24I 

instead  of  visiting  his  nephews  and  nieces,  passed  all 
his  time,  by  day  and  by  night,  with  the  Duchess  and 
her  daughters.  As  to  me,  he  fled  me  as  he  would 
fly  the  plague,  and  never  spoke  to  me  but  in  the 
company  of  M.  de  Torcy.  The  Duchess  had  three 
of  the  handsomest  daughters  in  the  world  :  the  one 
called  ]\Iademoiselle  de  Clermont  is  extremely  beautiful ; 
but  I  think  her  sister,  the  Princess  de  Conti,  more  amia- 
ble. The  Duchess  can  drink  very  copiously  without 
being  affected  ;  her  daughters  would  fain  imitate  her, 
but  they  soon  get  tipsy,  and  cannot  control  themselves 
as  their  mother  can. 


r6 


SECT.    XXVII. 

LOUIS    III.,    DUKE    OF    BOURBON. 

It  is  said  that  the  Duke  has  solid  parts;  he  does 
everything  with  a  certain  nobility  ;  he  has  a  good 
person,  but  the  loss  of  that  eye  which  the  Duke  de 
Berri  struck  out,  disfigures  him  much.  He  is  certainly 
very  politic,  and  this  quality  he  has  from  his  mother. 
He  is  polite  and  well-bred  ;  his  mind  is  not  very 
comprehensive,  and  he  has  been  badly  instructed. 
They  say  he  is  unfit  for  business  for  three  reasons ; 
first,  on  account  of  his  ignorance  ;  secondly,  for  his 
w^ant  of  application  ;  and  thirdly,  for  his  impatience. 
I  can  see  that  in  examining  him  narrowly  one  would 
find  many  defects  in  him  ;  but  he  has  also  many 
praiseworthy  qualities,  and  he  possesses  many  friends. 
He  has  a  greatness  and  nobility  of  soul,  and  a  good 
deportment. 

The  Prince  is  in  love  with  Madame  de  Polignac  ; 
but  she  is  fond  of  the  Duke,  who  cannot  yet  forget 
Madame  de  Nesle,  although  she  has  dismissed  him  to 
make  room  for  that  great  calf  the  Prince  of  Soubise. 
The  latter  person  is  reported  to  have  said,  "  Why  does 
the  Duke  complain  ?  Have  I  not  consented  to  share 
Madame  de  Nesle's  favours  with  him  whenever  he 
chooses  ?  " 

Such  is  the  delicacy  which  prevails  here  in  affairs  of 
love. 

The  Duke  is  very  passionate.     When  Madame  de 


THE    DUKE    OF    BOURBON  243 

Nesle  dismissed  him  he  ahnost  died  of  vexation  ;  he 
looked  as  if  he  was  about  to  give  up  the  ghost,  and  for 
six  months  he  did  not  know  what  to  do. 

The  Marquis  de  Villequier,  the  Duke  d'Aumont's 
son,  one  day  visited  the  Marchioness  de  Nesle.  She 
took  it  into  her  head  to  ask  him  if  he  was  very  fond  of 
his  wife  ?  Villequier  replied,  "  I  am  not  in  love  with 
her;  I  see  her  very  little;  our  humours  differ  greatly. 
She  is  serious,  and  for  my  part  I  like  pleasure  and 
gaiety.  I  feel  for  her  a  friendship  founded  on  esteem, 
for  she  is  one  of  the  mxost  virtuous  women  in  France." 

Madame  de  Nesle,  of  whom  no  man  could  say  so 
much,  took  this  for  an  insult,  and  complained  of  it  to  the 
Duke,  who  promised  to  avenge  her.  Some  days  after- 
wards he  invited  young  Villequier  to  dine  with  him  at 
the  Marquis  de  Nesle's ;  there  were,  besides  Madame 
de  Nesle,  the  INIarquis  de  Gevres,  Madame  de  Coligny,^ 
and  others.     During  dinner  the  Duke  began  thus : 

'*  A  great  many  men  fancy  they  are  sure  of  the 
fidelity  of  their  wives,  but  it  is  a  mistake.  I  thought  to 
protect  myself  from  this  common  fate  by  marrying  a 
monster,  but  it  served  me  nought ;  for  a  villain  named 
Du  Challar,  who  was  more  ugly  than  I  am,  played  me 
false.  As  to  the  Marquis  de  Gevres,  as  he  will  never 
marry  *  *  *  ,  he  will  be  exempt ;  but  you,  Monsieur 
de  Nesle,  you  are  so  and  so."  Nesle,  who  did  not  believe 
it,  although  it  was  very  true,  only  laughed.  Then 
addressing  himself  to  Villequier,  he  said,  "  And  you, 
Villequier,  don't  you  think  you  are  so  ? "  He  was 
silent;  the  Duke  continued,  "Yes,  you  are  befooled  by 
the  Chevalier  de  Pesay." 

I  The  eldest  daughter  of  Count  Bussy  de  Rabutin. 

16 — 2 


244  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

Villequier  blushed,  but  at  last  said,  "  T  confess  that 
up  to  this  moment  I  had  no  reason  to  believe  it ;  but 
since  you  put  me  into  such  good  company  I  have  no 
right  to  complain." 

I  do  not  think  Madame  de  Nesle  was  well  revenged. 

I  remember  that  the  Duke,  who  was  terribly  ill- 
made,  said  one  day  to  the  late  Monsieur,  who  was  a 
straight,  well-formed  person,  that  a  mask  had  taken  him 
for  Monsieur.  The  latter,  somewhat  mortified  at  such  a 
mistake,  replied,  "  I  lay  that,  with  all  other  wrongs  done 
to  me,  at  the  foot  of  the  Cross." 

Ever  since  the  Duchess  espoused  the  party  of  her 
son  against  her  brother  and  his  nephews,  the  Duke  has 
displayed  a  great  fondness  for  his  mother,  about  whom 
he  never  disturbed  himself  before. 

Mdlle.  de  Polignac  made  the  Duke  believe  she 
was  very  fond  of  him.  He  entertained  great  suspicions 
of  her,  and  had  her  watched ;  and  learnt  that  she 
was  carrying  on  a  secret  intrigue  with  the  Chevalier  of 
Bavaria.  He  reproached  her  with  it,  and  she  denied  the 
accusation.  The  Duke  cautioned  her  not  to  think  that 
she  could  deceive  him.  She  protested  that  he  had  been 
imposed  upon.  As  soon,  however,  as  she  had  quitted  him 
she  went  to  the  Chevalier's  house ;  and  the  Duke,  who 
had  her  dogged,  knew  whither  she  had  gone.  The  next 
day  he  appointed  her  to  visit  him ;  she  went  directly  into 
the  bedroom,  believing  that  his  suspicions  were  entirely 
lulled.  The  Duke  then  opened  the  door  wide,  so  that 
she  might  be  seen  from  the  Cabinet,  which  was  full  of 
men ;  and  calling  the  Chevalier  of  Bavaria,  he  said  to 
him: — "Here,  Sir  Chevalier,  come  and  see  your 
mistress,  who  will  now  have  no  occasion  to  go  so  far 
to  find  you." 


THE    DUKE    OF   BOURBON  245 

Although  the  Duke  and  the  Prince  of  Conti  are 
brothers-in-law  in  two  ways,  they  cannot  bear  each 
other. 

The  Duke  is  at  this  moment  (1718)  very  strongly 
attached  to  Madame  de  Prie.^  She  has  already  received 
a  good  beating  on  his  account  from  her  husband,  but 
this  does  not  deter  her.  She  is  said  to  have  a  good  deal 
of  sense ;  she  entirely  governs  the  Duke,  who  is  solely 
occupied  with  making  her  unfaithful  to  M.  de  Prie. 
She  has  consoled  the  Duke  for  his  dismissal  from 
Madame  de  Nesle ;  but  it  is  said  that  she  is  unfaithful 
to  him,  and  that  she  has  two  other  lovers  ;  one  is  the 
Prince  of  Carignan,  and  the  other  Lior,  the  King's 
first  maitre  d'hotel,  which  latter  is  the  handsomest  of 
the  three. 

It  is  impossible  that  the  Duke  can  now  inspire  any 
woman  with  affection  for  him.  He  is  tall,  thin  as  a  lath, 
his  legs  are  like  those  of  a  crane ;  his  body  is  bent  and 
short,  and  he  has  no  calves  to  his  legs  ;  his  eyes  are  so 
red  that  it  is  impossible  to  distinguish  the  bad  eye  from 
the  good  one  ;  his  cheeks  are  hollow ;  his  chin  so  long 
that  one  would  not  suppose  it  belonged  to  the  face ;  his 
lips  uncommonly  large :  in  short,  I  hardly  ever  saw 
a  man  before  so  ugly.  It  is  said  that  the  incon- 
stancy of  his  mistress,  Madame  de  Prie,  afflicts  him 
profoundly.* 

1  The  daughter  of  Bertelot  de  Pleneuf,  a  rich  financier,  and  one 
of  the  Chief  Secretaries  of  the  Chancellor  Voisin,  War  Minister. 

2  The  Marchioness  was  extremely  beautiful,  and  her  whole 
person  was  very  captivating.  Possessing  as  many  mental  as  personal 
charms,  she  concealed  beneath  an  apparent  simplicity  the  most 
dangerous  treachery.  Without  the  least  conception  of  virtue,  which, 
according  to  her  ideas,  w-as  a  word  void  of  sense,  she  affected  inno 


246  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

The  Princess  of  Modena  takes  nothing  by  the  death 
of  the  Duchess  ;  the  Duke  has  said  that  he  never  would 
have  married  that  Princess,  and  that  now  he  will  not 
marry  at  all. 

In  order  that  Mademoiselle  de  la  Roche-sur-Yon 
enjoy  the  millions  that  belong  to  her  of  right  in  may 
consequence  of  her  sister's  death,  it  is  necessary  first 
for  her  to  receive  them  ;  but  the  Duke,  it  is  reported,  as 
the  good  Duke  de  Cregni  used  to  say,  "  Holds  back  as 
tight  as  the  trigger  of  the  Cognac  cross-bow  " ;  and  in 
fact  he  has  not  only  refused  to  give  up  to  his  sister  what 
she  should  take  under  her  sister's  will,  but  he  disputes 
her  right  to  the  bank-notes  which  she  had  given  to  the 
Duchess  to  take  care  of  for  her,  when  she  herself  was 
dangerously  ill. 

The  Duke  and  his  mother  are  said  to  have  gained 
each  two  hundred  and  fifty  millions. 

The  Duke,  who  is  looked  upon  as  Law's  very  good 
friend,  has  been  ill-treated  by  the  people,  who  have  passed 
all  kinds  of  insults  upon  him,  calling  him  even  a  dog. 
His  brother,  the  Marquis  de  Clermont,  too,  has  fared 
little  better ;  for  they  cried  after  him  at  the  Port  Royal, 
"  Go  along,  dog !    you  are  not  much  better  than  your 

cence  in  vice,  was  violent  under  an  appearance  of  meekness,  and 
libertine  by  constitution.  She  deceived  her  lover  with  perfect 
impunity,  who  would  believe  what  she  said  even  against  the 
evidence  of  his  own  eyes.  I  could  mention  several  instances  of  this, 
if  they  were  not  too  indecent.  It  is,  however,  sufficient  to  say  that 
she  had  one  day  to  persuade  him  that  he  was  the  cause  of  a 
libertinism  of  which  he  was  really  the  victim. — Memoires  dt  Dudos, 
tome  ii.  It  is  well  known,  that  after  the  Duke  assumed  the  regency, 
upon  the  death  of  the  Regent,  the  Marchioness  du  Prie  governed  in 
his  name  ;  and  that  she  was  exiled,  and  died  two  years  afterwards 
of  ennui  and  vexation. 


THE    DUKE    OF    BOURBON  247 

other  brother."  His  tutor  alighted  for  the  purpose  of 
haranguing  the  mob ;  but  they  picked  up  some  stones, 
and  he  soon  found  it  expedient  to  get  into  the  carriage 
again,  and  make  off  with  all  speed. 


248  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 


SECT.  XXVIII. 

FRANCOIS    LOUIS,    PRINCE    OF    CONTI. 

The  Prince  of  Conti,  who  died  lately  (in  1709),  had 
good  sense,  courage,  and  so  many  agreeable  qualities,  as 
to  make  himself  generally  beloved.  But  he  had  also 
some  bad  points  in  his  character,  for  he  was  false,  and 
loved  no  person  but  himself.        *  -k-  *  « 


It  is  said  that  he  caused  his  own  death  by  taking 
stimulating  medicines,  which  destroyed  a  constitution 
naturally  feeble.  There  had  been  some  talk  of  making 
him  King  of  Poland.* 

I  In  1696,  after  the  death  of  John  Sobiesky. 


THE    GREAT   PRINCESS   OF   CONTI  249 


SECT.    XXIX. 

THE  GREAT  PRINCESS  OF  CONTI,  DAUGHTER  OF 
LA  VALLIERE. 

This  is  of  all  the  King's  illegitimate  daughters  the 
one  he  most  loves.  She  is  by  far  the  most  poHte  and 
well  bred  ;  but  she  is  now  totally  absorbed  by  devotion. 


SECT.  XXX. 

THE    PRINCESS    PALATINE,    MARIE    THERESE    DE    BOURBON, 
WIFE    OF    FRANCOIS    LOUIS,    PRINCE    OF    CONTI. 

This  Princess  is  the  only  one  of  the  House  of  Conde 
who  is  good  for  anything.  I  think  she  must  have  some 
German  blood  in  her  veins.  She  is  little,  and  somewhat 
on  one  side,  but  she  is  not  hunch-backed.  She  has  fine 
eyes,  like  her  father ;  with  this  exception,  she  has  no 
pretensions  to  beauty,  but  she  is  virtuous  and  pious. 
What  she  has  suffered  on  account  of  her  husband  has 
excited  general  compassion  ;  he  was  as  jealous  as  a 
fiend,  though  without  the  slightest  cause.  She  never 
knew  where  she  was  to  pass  the  night.  When  she  had 
made  arrangements  to  sleep  at  Versailles,  he  would  take 
her  from  Paris  to  Chantilly,  where  she  supposed  she 
was  going  to  stay ;  then  she  was  obliged  to  set  out  for 
Versailles.  He  tormented  her  incessantly  in  all  possible 
ways,  and  he  looked,  moreover,  like  a  little  ape.  The 
late  Queen  had  two  paroquets,  one  of  which  was  the 
very  picture  of  the  Prince,  while  the  other  was  as  much 
like  the  Marshal  de  Luxemburg  as  one  drop  of  water 
is  like  another. 

Notwithstanding  all  that  the  Princess  has  suffered, 
she  daily  regrets  the  loss  of  her  husband.  I  am  often 
quite  angry  to  see  her  bewailing  her  widowhood  instead 
of  enjoying  the  repose  which  it  affords  her ;  she  wishes 


THE    PRINCESS   PALATINE  25 1 

that  her   husband  were  alive  again,   even  although  he 
should  torment  her  again  as  much  as  before. 

She  was  desirous  that  Mademoiselle  de  Conde 
should  marry  the  late  Margrave ;  this  lady  was  incom- 
parably more  handsome  than  her  sister ;  but  I  think  he 
had  a  greater  inclination  for  Mademoiselle  de  Vendome, 
because  she  seemed  to  be  more  modest  and  quiet. 

The  Princess,  who  has  been  born  and  educated 
here,  had  not  the  same  dislike  that  I  felt  to  her  son's 
marrying  an  illegitimate  child,  and  yet  she  has  repented 
it  no  less.  She  is  exceedingly  unhappy  with  respect  to 
her  children.  The  Princess  of  Conti,  mother  of  the 
Prince  of  Conti,  who  is  rather  virtuous  than  otherwise, 
is  nevertheless  a  little  simpleton,  and  is  something  like 
the  Countess  Pimbeche  Orbeche,  for  she  is  always  wish- 
ing to  be  engaged  in  lawsuits  against  her  mother  :  who, 
on  her  part,  has  used  all  possible  means  but  without 
success,  to  be  reconciled  to  her.  On  Thursday  last 
(loth  March,  1720)  she  lost  her  cause,  and  I  am  very 
glad  of  it,  for  it  was  an  unjust  suit.  The  younger 
Princess  wished  the  affair  to  be  referred  to  arbitration  ; 
but  the  son  would  have  the  business  carried  through, 
and  made  his  counsel  accuse  his  mother  of  falsehood. 
The  advocate  of  the  Princess  replied  as  follows  : — 

"  The  sincerity  of  the  Princess  of  Conti  and  of 
the  Princess  her  daughter  are  so  well  known  that 
all  the  world  can  judge  of  them."  This  has  amused 
the  whole  palace. 


SECT.    XXXI. 

LOUISE-ELISABETH,    PRINCESS   OF   CONTI,   CONSORT   OF 
LOUIS    ARMAND    DE    CONTI. 

She  is  a  person  full  of  charms,  and  a  striking  proof 
that  grace  is  preferable  to  beauty.  When  she  chooses  to 
make  herself  agreeable,  it  is  impossible  to  resist  her. 
Her  manners  are  most  fascinating  ;  she  is  full  of  gentle- 
ness, never  displaying  the  least  ill-humour,  and  always 
saying  something  kind  and  obliging.  It  is  greatly  to  be 
regretted  that  she  is  not  in  the  society  of  more  virtuous 
persons,  for  she  is  herself  naturally  very  good ;  but  she  is 
spoiled  by  bad  company.  She  has  an  ugly  fool  for  her 
husband,  who  has  been  badly  brought  up ;  and  the 
examples  which  are  constantly  before  her  eyes  are  so 
pernicious  that  they  have  corrupted  her  and  made  her 
careless  of  her  reputation.  Her  amiable  unaffected- 
manners  are  highly  delightful  to  foreigners :  among 
others,  some  Bavarians  have  fallen  in  love  with  her,  as 
well  as  the  Prince  Ragotzky ;  but  she  disgusted  him  with 
her  coquetry. 

She  does  not  love  her  husband,  and  cannot  do  so,  no 
less  on  account  of  his  ugly  person  than  for  his  bad  temper. 
It  is  not  only  his  face  that  is  hideous,  but  his  whole  person 
is  frightful  and  deformed.  She  terrified  him  by  placing 
some  muskets  and  swords  near  her  bed,  and  assuring  him 
that  if  he  came  there  again  with  his  pistols  charged,  she 
would  take  the  gun  and  fire  upon  him,  and  if  she  missed, 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   CONTI  253 

she  would  fall  upon  him  with  the  sword.      Since   this 
time  he  has  left  off  carrying  his  pistols. 

Her  husband  teased  her,  and  made  her  weep  so  much 
that  she  has  lost  her  child,  and  her  health  is  again  injured. 


SECT.   XXXII. 

LOUIS   ARMAND,    PRINCE    OF    CONTI. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  his  whole  appearance  is 
extremely  repulsive.  He  is  a  horridly  ill-made  little 
man,  and  is  always  absent,  which  gives  him  a  distracted 
air,  as  if  he  were  really  crazy.  When  it  could  be  the 
least  expected,  too,  he  will  fall  over  his  own  walking- 
stick.  The  folks  in  the  palace  were  so  much  accustomed 
to  this  in  the  late  King's  time,  that  they  used  always  to 
say,  when  they  heard  anything  fall, — 

"It's  nothing;  only  the  Prince  of  Conti  tumbling 
down." 

He  has  sense,  but  he  has  been  brought  up  like  a 
scullion  boy;  he  has  strange  whimsies,  of  which  he  is 
quite  aware  himself,  but  which  he  cannot  control.  His 
wife  is  a  charming  woman,  and  is  much  to  be  pitied  for 
being  in  fear  of  her  life  from  this  madman,  who  often 
threatens  her  with  loaded  pistols.  Fortunately,  she 
has  plenty  of  courage,  and  does  not  fear  him.  Not- 
withstanding this,  he  is  very  fond  of  her  ;  and  this  is 
the  more  surprising,  because  his  love  for  the  sex  is  not 
very  strong ;  and  although  he  visits  improper  places 
occasionally,  it  is  only  for  the  purpose  of  tormenting 
the  poor  wretches  who  are  to  be  found  there.  Before  he 
was  married  he  felt  no  affection  for  any  woman  but  his 
mother,  who  also  loved  him  very  tenderly.  She  is  now 
vexed  at  having  no  longer  the  same  ascendancy  over  her 


THE    PRINCE    OF    CONTI  255 

son,  and  is  jealous  of  her  daughter-in-law  because  the 
Prince  loves  her  alone.  This  occasions  frequent  dis- 
turbances in  the  house.  The  mother  has  had  a  house 
built  at  some  distance  from  her  son.  When  they  are 
good  friends,  she  dismisses  the  workmen  ;  but  when  they 
quarrel,  she  doubles  the  number  and  hastens  the  work,  so 
that  one  may  always  tell,  upon  a  mere  inspection  of  the 
building,  upon  what  terms  the  Princess  of  Conti  and  her 
son  are  Hving.  The  mother  wished  to  have  her  grand- 
son to  educate  ;  her  daughter-in-law  opposed  it  because 
she  preferred  taking  care  of  him  herself ;  and  then  ensued 
a  dog-and-cat  quarrel.  The  wife,  who  is  cunning  enough, 
governs  her  husband  entirely,  and  has  gained  over  his 
favourites  to  be  her  creatures.  She  is  the  idol  of  the 
whole  house. 

In  order  to  prevent  the  Prince  of  Conti  from  going  to 
Hungary,  the  government  of  Poitou  has  been  bought  for 
him,  and  a  place  in  the  Council  of  the  Regency  allotted 
to  him  ;  by  this  means  they  have  retamed  the  wild  beast. 

Our  young  Princess  says  her  husband  has  a  rheum 
in  his  eyes.  *  ^t  n  *  *  -j:- 


To  amuse  her,  he  reads  aloud  Ovid  in  the  original ; 
and  although  she  does  not  understand  one  word  of  Latin, 
she  is  obliged  to  listen  and  to  remain  silent,  even  though 
anyone  should  come  in  ;  for  if  anybody  interrupts  him  he 
is  angry,  and  scolds  all  who  are  in  the  apartment. 

At  the  last  masked  ball  (4th  March,  1718)  someone 
who  had  dressed  himself  like  the  Prince  of  Conti,  and 
wore  a  hump  on  his  back,  went  and  sat  beside  him. 
"  Who  are  you,  mask  ?  "  asked  the  Prince. 


256  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

The  other  replied,  '*  I  am  the  Prince  of  Conti." 

Without  the  least  ill-temper  the  Prince  •  took  off  his 
mask,  and  laughing,  said,  "  See  how  a  man  may  be 
deceived.  I  have  been  fancying  for  the  last  twenty 
years  that  I  was  the  Prince  of  Conti."  To  keep  one's 
temper  on  such  an  occasion  is  really  an  uncommon  thing. 

The  Prince  thought  himself  quite  cured,  but  he  has 
had  a  relapse  in  Spain,  and  although  he  is  a  general  of 
cavalry  he  cannot  mount  his  horse,  I  said  on  Tuesday 
last  (17th  July,  1 719)  to  the  young  Princess  of  Conti 
that  I  heard  her  husband  was  not  entirely  recovered. 
She  laughed  and  whispered  to  me, — 

*'0h  yes ;  he  is  quite  well ;  but  he  pretends  not  to  be 
so  that  he  may  avoid  going  to  the  siege,  where  he  may  be 
killed,  for  he  is  as  cowardly  as  an  ape."  I  think,  if  I  had 
as  little  incHnation  for  war  as  he  has,  I  would  not  engage 
in  the  campaign  at  all;  there  is  nothing  to  oblige  him  to 
(Jo  so ; — it  is  to  reap  glory,  not  to  encounter  shame,  that 
men  go  into  the  army.  His  best  friends,  Lanoue  and 
Cleremont,  for  example,  have  remonstrated  with  him  on 
this  subject,  and  he  has  quarrelled  with  them  in  con- 
sequence. It  is  an  unfortunate  thing  for  a  man  not  to 
know  himself. 

The  Prince  is  terribly  afflicted  with  a  dysentery. 
They  wanted  to  carry  him  to  Bayonne,  but  he  has  so 
violent  a  fever  that  he  would  not  be  able  to  support  the 
journey.  He  is  therefore  obliged  to  stay  with  the  army 
(25th  August,  1719). 

He  has  been  back  nine  or  ten  days,  but  I  have  heard 
nothing  of  him  yet ;  he  is  constantly  engaged  in  the  Rue 
de  Quincampoix,  trying  to  gain  money  among  the  stock- 
jobbers (19th  September,  1719-) 


THE    PRINCE    OF    CONTI  257 

At  length  he  has  been  to  see  me.  Perhaps  there 
was  this  morning  less  stock-jobbing  than  usual  in  the 
Rue  de  Quincampoix,  for  there  he  has  been  ever  since 
his  return.  His  cousin  the  Duke  is  engaged  in  the  same 
pursuit.  The  Prince  of  Conti  has  not  brought  back 
much  honour  from  the  campaign:  he  is  too  much 
addicted  to  debauchery  of  all  kinds. 

Although  he  can  be  polite  when  he  chooses,  no  one 
can  behave  more  brutally  than  he  does  occasionally,  and 
he  becomes  more  and  more  mad  daily. 

At  one  of  the  last  opera  balls  he  seized  a  poor  Httle 
girl  just  come  from  the  country,  took  her  from  her 
mother's  side,  and  placing  her  between  his  own  legs, 
amused  himself  by  slapping  and  filliping  her  until  he 
made  her  nose  and  mouth  bleed.  The  young  girl,  who 
had  done  nothing  to  offend  him,  and  who  did  not  even 
know  him,  wept  bitterly  ;  but  he  only  laughed,  and  said, 
"  Cannot  I  give  nice  fillips  ?  "  All  who  were  witness  of 
this  brutal  scene  pitied  her  ;  but  no  one  dare  come  to  the 
poor  child's  assistance,  for  they  were  afraid  of  having 
anything  to  do  with  this  violent  madman  :  he  makes  the 
most  frightful  grimaces,  and  I,  who  am  extremely 
frightened  at  crazy  people,  tremble  whenever  I  happen 
to  be  alone  with  him. 

His  wicked  pranks  remind  me  of  my  own.  When 
I  was  a  child  I  used  to  take  touchwood,  and,  placing 
pieces  of  it  over  my  eyes  and  in  my  mouth,  I  hid  myself 
upon  the  staircase  for  the  purpose  of  terrifying  the  people : 
but  I  was  then  much  afraid  of  ghosts,  so  that  I  was 
always  the  first  to  be  frightened.  It  is  in  the  same  way 
that  the  Prince  of  Conti  does ;  he  wishes  to  make  him- 
self feared,  and  he  is  the  most  timid  person  in  the  world. 

17 


258  IIISTOKICAL    FRAGMENTS 

The  Duke  and  his  mother,  as  well  as  Lasse,  the 
friend  of  the  latter,  have  gained  several  millions:  the 
Prince  has  gained  less,  and  yet  his  winnings,  they  say, 
amount  to  millions.'  The  two  cousins  do  not  stir  from 
the  Rue  de  Quincampoix,  which  has  given  rise  to  the 
following  epigram: — 

Prince  dites  nous  vos  exploits 
Que  faites  vous  pour  voire  gloire  ? 
Taisez-vous  sots  ! — Lisez  I'histoire 
De  la  rue  de  Quincampoix. 

But  the  person  who  had  gained  most  by  this  affair 
is  Dantin,  who  is  horridly  avaricious. 

The  Princess  of  Conti  told  me  that  she  had  had  her 
son  examined  in  his  infancy  by  Clement,  for  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  whether  he  was  in  every  respect  well 
made  ;  and  that  he,  having  found  the  child  perfectly  well 
made,  went  to  the  Prince  of  Conti,  and  said  to  him: 
"  Monseigneur,  I  have  examined  the  shape  of  the 
young  Prince  who  is  just  born  :  he  is  at  all  points  well 
formed,  let  him  sleep  without  a  bolster  that  he  may 
remain  so;  and  only  imagine  what  grief  it  would  occasion 
to  the  Princess  of  Conti,  who  has  brought  him  into  the 
world  straight,  if  you  should  make  him  crooked." 

The  Prince  of  Conti  wished  to  speak  of  some- 
thing else,  but  Clement  still  returned  to  the  same 
topic,  saying,  "  Remember,  Monseigneur,  he  is  straight 
as  a  wand,  and  do  not  make  him  crooked  and  hunch- 
backed." 

The  Prince  of  Conti,  not  being  able  to  endure  this, 
ran  away. 

I  He  had  four  waggons  loaded  with  silver  carried  from  Law's 
bank,  in  exchange  for  his  paper  money ;  and  this  it  was  that 
accelerated  Law's  disgrace,  and  created  a  kind  of  popularity  for  the 
I'rince  of  Conti. 


SECT.    XXXIII. 

THE     ABB6     DUBOIS. 

My  son  had  a  sub-governor,  and  he  it  was  who 
appointed  the  Abbe,  a  very  learned  person,  to  be  his 
tutor.  The  sub-governor's  intention  was  to  have 
dismissed  the  Abbe  as  soon  as  he  should  have  taught 
my  son  sufficiently,  and  excepting  during  the  time 
occupied  by  the  lessons,  he  never  suffered  him  to  remain 
with  his  pupil.  But  this  good  gentleman  could  not 
accomplish  his  design ;  for  being  seized  with  a  violent 
colic,  he  died,  unhappily  for  me,  in  a  few  hours.  The 
Abbe  then  proposed  himself  to  supply  his  place ;  there 
was  no  other  preceptor  near  at  hand,  so  the  Abbe 
remained  with  my  son,  and  assumed  so  adroitly  the 
language  of  an  honest  man  that  I  took  him  for  one  until 
my  son's  marriage :  then  it  was  that  I  discovered  all  his 
knavery.  I  had  a  strong  regard  for  him,  because  I 
thought  he  was  tenderly  attached  to  my  son,  and  only 
desired  to  promote  his  advantage;  but  when  I  found 
that  he  was  a  treacherous  person,  who  thought  only  of 
his  own  interest,  and  that,  instead  of  carefully  trying  to 
preserve  my  son's  honour,  he  plunged  him  into  ruin  by 
permitting  him  to  give  himself  up  to  debauchery  without 
seeming  to  perceive  it,  then  my  esteem  for  this  artful 
priest  was  changed  into  disgust.  I  know,  from  my  son 
himself,  that  the  Abbe  having  one  day  met  him  in  the 
street,  just  as  he  was  about  to  enter  a  house  of  ill-fame, 

17 — 2 


26o  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

did  nothing  but  laugh  at  him,  instead  of  taking  him  by 
the  arm  and  leading  him  home  again.  By  this  culpable 
indulgence,  and  by  the  part  he  took  in  my  son's  marriage, 
he  has  proved  that  there  is  neither  faith  nor  honesty  in 
him.  I  know  that  I  do  him  no  wrong  in  suspecting  him 
to  have  contributed  to  my  son's  marriage ;  what  I  say  I 
have  from  my  son  himself,  and  from  people  who  were 
living  with  that  old  Maintenon  at  the  time,  when  the 
Abbe  used  to  go  nightly  for  the  purpose  of  arranging 
that  intrigue  with  her,  the  object  of  which  was  to  sell 
and  betray  his  master.  He  deceives  himself  if  he  fancies 
that  I  do  not  know  all  this.  At  first  he  had  declared  in 
my  favour,  but  after  the  old  woman  had  sent  for  him  two 
or  three  times  he  suddenly  changed  his  conduct.  It  was 
not,  however,  on  this  that  the  King  afterwards  took  a 
dislike  to  him,  but  for  a  nefarious  scheme  in  which  he 
was  engaged  with  the  Pere  La  Chaise.  Monsieur  was 
as  much  vexed  as  I.  The  King  and  the  old  woman 
threatened  to  dismiss  all  his  favourites,  which  made  him 
consent  to  everything;  he  repented  afterwards,  but  it  was 
then  too  late. 

I  would  to  God  that  the  Abbe  Dubois  had  as  much 
religion  as  he  has  talent !  but  he  beheves  in  nothing — he 
is  treacherous  and  wicked — his  falsehood  may  be  seen  in 
his  very  eyes.  He  has  the  look  of  a  fox  ;  and  his  device 
is  an  animal  of  this  sort,  creeping  out  of  his  hole  and 
watching  a  fowl.  He  is  unquestionably  a  good  scholar, 
talks  well,  and  has  instructed  my  son  well ;  but  I  wish 
he  had  ceased  to  visit  his  pupil  after  his  tuition  was 
terminated ;  I  should  not  then  have  to  regret  this 
unfortunate  marriage,  to  which  I  can  never  reconcile 
myself.     Excepting  the  Abbe  Dubois  there  is  no  priest 


THE    ABBfi    DUBOIS  201 

in  my  son's  favour.  He  has  a  sort  of  indistinctness  in 
his  speech,  which  makes  it  sometimes  necessary  for  him 
to  repeat  his  words  ;  and  this  often  annoys  me. 

If  there  is  anything  which  detracts  from  the  Abbe's 
good  sense  it  is  his  extreme  pride ;  it  is  a  weak  side  upon 
which  he  may  always  be  successfully  attacked.  I  wish 
my  son  had  as  little  confidence  in  him  as  I  have ;  but 
what  astonishes  me  most  is  that,  knowing  him  as  he  does, 
better  than  I  do,  he  will  still  trust  him.  My  son  is  like 
the  rest  of  his  family  ;  he  cannot  get  rid  of  persons  to 
whom  he  is  accustomed,  and  as  the  Abbe  has  been  his 
tutor,  he  has  acquired  a  habit  of  suffering  him  to  say 
anything  he  chooses.  By  his  amusing  wit,  too,  he  always 
contrives  to  restore  himself  to  my  son's  good  graces,  even 
when  the  latter  has  been  displeased  with  him. 

If  the  Abbe  had  been  choked  with  his  first  lie  he  had 
been  dead  long  ago  ;  lying  is  an  art  in  which  he  excels, 
and  the  more  eminently  where  his  own  interest  is 
concerned  ;  if  I  were  to  enumerate  all  the  lies  I  have 
known  him  utter  I  should  have  a  long  list  to  write.  He 
it  was  who  suggested  to  the  King  all  that  was  necessary 
to  be  said  to  him  respecting  my  son's  marriage,  and  for 
this  purpose  he  had  secret  interviews  with  Madame  de 
Maintenon.  He  affects  to  think  we  are  upon  good  terms, 
and  whatever  I  say  to  him,  however  disagreeable,  he 
takes  it  all  with  a  smile. 

My  son  has  most  amply  recompensed  the  Abbe 
Dubois ;  he  has  given  him  the  place  of  Secretary  of 
the  King's  Cabinet,  which  M.  Calieres  formerly  held, 
and  which  is  worth  22,000  livres;  he  has  also  given  him 
a  seat  in  the  Council  of  Regency  for  the  Foreign  Affairs. 
My  son  assures  me  that  it  is  not  his  intention  to 


202  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

make  the  Abbe  Dubois  a  cardinal,  and  that  the  Abbe 
himself  does  not  think  about  it  (17th  August,  171 7). 

On  the  6th  of  March,  this  disagreeable  priest  came 
to  me  and  said,  "  Monseigneur  has  just  nominated  me 
Archbishop  of  Cambray."  I  replied,  •«  I  congratulate 
you  upon  it ;  but  has  this  taken  place  to-day  ?  I  heard 
of  it  a  week  ago ;  and,  since  you  were  seen  to  take  the 
oaths  on  your  appointment,  no  one  has  doubted  it."  It 
is  said  that  the  Duke  de  Mazarin  said,  on  the  Abbe's 
first  mass,  "The  Abbe  Dubois  is  gone  to  his  first  com- 
munion "  ;  meaning  that  he  had  never  before  taken  the 
communion  in  all  his  life.  I  embarrassed  my  son  by 
remarking  to  him  that  he  had  changed  his  opinion  since 
he  told  me  the  Abbe  should  never  become  bishop  or 
archbishop,  and  that  he  did  not  think  of  being  a  cardinal. 
My  son  blushed  and  answered,  "  It  is  very  true  ;  but 
I  had  good  reason  for  changing  my  intention."  "Heaven 
grant  it  may  be  so,"  I  said,  "for  it  must  be  by  God's 
mercy,  and  not  from  the  exercise  of  your  own  reason." 

The  Archbishop  of  Cambray  is  the  declared  enemy 
of  our  Abbe  Saint  Albin.  The  word  arch  is  applicable  to 
all  his  quahties  ;  he  is  an  arch-cheat,  an  arch-hypocrite, 
an  arch-flatterer,  and  above  all  an  arch-knave. 

It  is  reported  that  a  servant  of  the  Archbishop  of 
Rheims  said  to  a  servant  of  the  Archbishop  of  Cambray, 
"  Although  my  master  is  not  a  cardinal,  he  is  still  a 
greater  lord  than  your's,  for  he  consecrates  the  Kings." 

"Yes,"  replied  the  Abbe  Dubois'  servant,  "but  my 
master  consecrates  the  real  God,  who  is  still  greater  than 
all  Kings." 

The  following  epigram  has  been  made  upon  the 
Abbe :— 


THE    ABBA    DUBOIS  263 

Je  suis  du  bois  dont  on  fait  les  cuistres, 

Et  cuistre  je  fus  autrefois  ; 

Mais  ä  present  je  suis  du  bois 
Dont  on  fait  les  ministres. 

Je  ne  trouve  pas  6tonnant 

Que  Ton  fasse  un  ministre, 
Et  m^me  un  prelat  important, 

D'un  Maq  •  •  •  d'un  cuistre. 
Rien  ne  me  surprend  en  cela  : 

Et  ne  sait  on  pas  comme 
De  son  cheval  Caligula 

Fit  un  consul  ä  Rome  ? 


SECT.  XXXIV. 


MR.    LAW. 


Mr.  Law' is  a  very  honest  and  a  very  sensible  man; 
he  is  extremely  polite  to  everybody,  and  very  well  bred. 
He  does  not  speak  French  ill — at  least,  he  speaks  it  much 
better  than  Englishmen  in  general.  It  is  said  that  when 
his  brother  arrived  in  Paris,  Mr.  Law  made  him  a 
present  of  three  millions  (of  livres) ;  he  has  good  talents, 
and  has  put  the  affairs  of  the  State  in  such  good  order 
that  all  the  King's  debts  have  been  paid.  He  is 
admirably  skilled  in  all  that  relates  to  finance.  The 
late  King  would  have  been  glad  to  employ  him,  but  as 
Mr.  Law  was  not  a  Catholic,  he  said  he  ought  not  to 
confide  in  him   (19th  Sept.,   1719). 

He  (Law)  says  that  of  all  the  persons  to  whom  he 
has  explained  his  system,  there  have  been  only  two  who 
have  properly  comprehended  it,  and  these  are  the  King 
of  Sicily  and  my  son ;  he  was  quite  astonished  at  their 
having  so  readily  understood  it.  He  is  so  much  run 
after,  that  he  has  no  repose  by  day  or  by  night.  A 
Duchess  even  kissed  his  hand  publicly.  If  a  Duchess 
can  do  this,  what  will  not  other  ladies  do  ?       ;t  % 


Another  lady,  who  pursued  him  everywhere,  heard 
that  he  was  at  Madame  de  Simiane's,  and  immediately 
begged    the    latter    to    permit    her    to    dine   with   her. 


MR.    LAW  265 

Madame  de  Simiane  went  to  her  and  said  she  must  be 
excused  for  that  day,  as  Mr.  Law  was  to  dine  with  her. 
Madame  de  Bouchu  repHed  that  it  was  for  this  reason 
expressly  she  wished  to  be  invited.  Madame  de  Simiane 
only  repeated  that  she  did  not  choose  to  have  Mr.  Law 
troubled,  and  so  quitted  her.  Having,  however,  ascer- 
tained the  dinner-hour,  Madame  de  Bouchu  passed 
before  the  house  in  her  coach,  and  made  her  coachman 
and  footman  call  out  "  Fire !  "  Immediately  all  the 
company  quitted  the  table  to  know  where  the  fire  was, 
and  among  them  Mr.  Law  appeared.  As  soon  as 
Madame  de  Bouchu  saw  him,  she  jumped  out  of  her 
carriage  to  speak  to  him  ;  but  he,  guessing  the  trick, 
instantly  disappeared. 

Another  lady  ordered  her  carriage  to  be  driven 
opposite  to  Mr.  Law's  hotel  and  then  to  be  overturned. 
Addressing  herself  to  the  coachman,  she  said,  *'  Over- 
turn here,  you  blockhead — overturn  !  "  Mr.  Law  ran 
out  to  her  assistance,  when  she  confessed  to  him  that 
she  had  done  this  for  the  sole  purpose  of  having  an 
interview  with  him. 

A  servant  had  gained  so  much  in  the  Rue  de 
Quincampoix,  that  he  was  enabled  to  set  up  his  equip- 
age. When  his  coach  was  brought  home,  he  forgot  who 
he  was,  and  mounted  behind.  His  servant  cried  out, 
"Ah,  sir!  what  are  you  doing?  this  is  your  own 
carriage." 

"  That  is  true,"  said  the  quondam  servant ;  "  I  had 
forgotten." 

Mr.  Law's  coachman  having  also  made  a  very  con- 
siderable sum,  demanded  permission  to  retire  from  his 
service.     His   master  gave  it  him,  on  condition   of  his 


266  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

procuring  him  another  good  coachman.  On  the  next 
day,  the  wealthy  coachman  made  his  appearance  with 
two  persons,  both  of  whom  were,  he  said,  good  coach- 
men ;  and  that  Mr.  Law  had  only  to  choose  which  of 
them  he  liked,  while  he,  the  coachman,  would  take  the 
other. 

People  of  all  the  nations  in  Europe  are  daily  coming 

to  Paris ;  and  it  has  been  remarked  that  the  number  of 

souls  in  the  capital  has  been  increased  by  250,000  more 

than  usual.      It  has  been  necessary  to  make  granaries 

into  bedrooms ;   there  is  such  a  profusion  of  carriages 

that  the  streets   are  choked  up  with  them,  and  many 

persons  run  great  danger.     ***** 

Some  ladies  of  quality  seeing  a  well-dressed  woman 

covered  with  diamonds,  and  whom  nobody  knew,  alight 

from  a  very  handsome  carriage,  were  curious  to  know 

who  it  was,  and  sent  to   enquire   of  the   lackey.      He 

replied  with  a  sneer,  "  It  is  a  lady  who   has   recently 

tumbled  from   a  garret  into  this  carriage."     This   lady 

was  probably  of  the  same  sort  as  Madame  Bejon's  cook. 

That  lady,  being  at  the  opera  some  days  back,  saw  a 

person   in  a  costly  dress,   and   decorated  with  a  great 

quantity   of  jewels,    but  very   ugly,    enter    the   theatre. 

The     daughter    said,     "  Mamma,    unless    I    am     very 

much  deceived,  that  lady  so  dressed  out   is   Mary,  our 

cook-maid." 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  my  dear,"  said  the  mother, 
"  and  don't  talk  such  nonsense." 

Some  of  the  young  people,  who  were  in  the  amphi- 
theatre, began  to  cry  out,  "  Mary,  the  cook-maid ! 
Mary,  the  cook-maid  !  " 

The   lady  in   the   fine   dress   rose  and  said,  "  Yes, 


MR.    LAW  267 

madam,  I  am  Mary,  the  cook-maid  ;  I  have  gained  some 
money  in  the  Rue  de  Quincampoix ;  I  Hke  to  be  well- 
dressed  ;  I  have  bought  some  fine  gowns,  and  I  have 
paid  for  them.     Can  you  say  so  much  for  your  own  ?  " 

Mr.  Law  is  not  the  only  person  who  has  bought 
magnificent  jewels  and  extensive  estates.  The  Duke, 
too,  has  become  immensely  rich,  as  well  as  all  those  who 
have  held  stock.  Mr.  Law  has  made  his  abjuration  at 
Melun  ^ ;  he  has  embraced  the  Catholic  religion  with  his 
children,  and  his  wife  is  in  utter  despair  at  it.  It  is 
amusing  enough  to  see  how  the  people  run  after  him  in 
crowds  only  to  be  looked  at  by  him  or  his  son.  He  has 
had  a  terrible  quarrel  with  the  Prince  of  Conti,  who 
wished  Mr.  Law  to  do  at  the  bank  a  thing  which  my  son 
had  forbidden.  The  Prince  of  Conti  said  to  Mr.  Law, 
*'  Do  you  know  who  I  am  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Prince,"  replied  Law,  "  or  I  should  not  treat 
you  as  I  have  done." 

"  Then,"  said  the  Prince,  "you  ought  to  obey  me." 

**  I  will  obey  you,"  replied  Law,  "  when  you  shall  be 
Regent  "  ;  and  he  withdrew. 

The  Princess  de  Leon  would  be  taken  to  the  bank, 
and  made  her  footmen  cry  out,  "  Room  for  the  Princess 
of  Leon."  At  the  same  time  she,  who  is  very  little, 
slipped  into  the  place  where  the  bankers  and  their  clerks 
were  sitting. 

"  I  want  some  stock,"  said  she. 

The  clerk  replied, "You  must  have  patience,  madam, 

I  The  abjuration  did  not  take  place  at  Paris,  because  the  jokes 
of  the  Parisians  were  to  be  dreaded.  The  Abbe  Tencin  was  so 
fortunate  as  to  have  the  office  of  converting  Mr.  Law.  "  He  gained 
by  this  pious  labour,"  says  Duclos,  "  a  large  sum  in  bank-notes  and 
stock.  ' 


26S  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

the  certificates  are  delivered  in  rotation,  and  you  must 
wait  until  those  who  applied  before  you  are  served." 

At  the  same  time  he  opened  the  drawer  where  the 
stock-papers  were  kept ;  the  Princess  snatched  at  them  : 
the  clerk  tried  to  prevent  her,  and  a  fight  ensued.  The 
clerk  was  now  alarmed  at  having  beaten  a  lady  of  quality, 
and  ran  out  to  ask  the  servants  who  the  Princess  of  Leon 
was.  One  of  the  footmen  said,  "  She  is  a  lady  of  high 
rank,  young  and  beautiful." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  the  clerk,  "it  cannot  be  she." 

Another  footman  said,  "  The  Princess  of  Leon  is  a 
little  woman  with  a  hunch  before  and  another  behind, 
and  with  arms  so  long  that  they  nearly  reach  the  ground." 

"  Then,"  replied  the  clerk,  "  that  is  she." 

Mr.  Law  is  not  avaricious  :  he  gives  away  large 
sums  in  charity,  and  assists  many  indigent  people. 

When  my  son  wanted  some  Duchess  to  accompany 
my  daughter  to  Geneva,  some  one  who  heard  him  speak- 
ing about  it,  said,  "  If,  Monsieur,  you  would  like  to  select 
from  a  number  of  Duchesses,  send  to  Mr.  Law's  ;  you 
will  find  them  all  there." 

Lord  Stair  cannot  conceal  his  hatred  of  Mr.  Law, 
and  yet  he  has  gained  at  least  three  millions  by  him. 

Mr.  Law's  son  was  to  have  danced  in  the  King's 
ballet,  but  he  has  been  attacked  by  the  small-pox 
(9th  Feb.,  1720). 

My  son  has  been  obliged  to  displace  Mr.  Law. 
This  person,  who  was  formerly  worshipped  like  a  god, 
is  now  not  sure  of  his  life :  it  is  astonishing  how  greatly 
terrified  he  is.  He  is  no  longer  Comptroller-General, 
but  continues  to  hold  the  place  of  Director-General  of 
the    Bank   and   of    the    East    India    Company ;    certain 


MR.    LAW  269 

members  of  the  Parliamentary  Council  have,  however, 
been  joined  with  him  to  watch  over  the  business  of  the 
Bank.^  His  friend  the  Duke  d'Antin  wanted  to  get  the 
place  of  Director. 

The  Duke  at  first  spoke  strongly  against  Law  ;  but 
it  is  said  that  a  sum  of  four  millions,  three  of  which  went 
to  him  and  one  to  Madame  de  Prie,  has  engaged  him  to 
undertake  Law's  defence.  My  son  is  not  timid,  although 
he  is  threatened  on  all  sides,  and  is  very  much  amused 
with  Law's  terrors  (25th  June,  1720). 

At  length  the  latter  is  somewhat  recovered,  and 
continues  to  be  great  friends  with  the  Duke :  this  is  very 
pleasant  to  the  Duke  de  Conti,  and  makes  him  behave 
so  strangely  that  his  infirmity  is  observed  by  the  people. 
It  is  fortunate  for  us  that  Law  is  so  great  a  coward, 
otherwise  he  would  be  very  troublesome  to  my  son,  who, 
learning  that  he  was  joining  in  a  cabal  against  him,  told 
his  wife  of  it.  "  Well,  Monsieur,"  said  she,  "  what 
would  you  have  him  do  ?  he  likes  to  be  talked  of,  and  he 
has  no  other  way  of  accomplishing  it.  What  could 
people  have  to  say  of  him  if  he  did  not  ?  " 

On  the  17th  of  June,  while  I  was  at  the  Carmelites, 
Madame  de  Chateau  Thiers  came  to  me  in  my  chamber, 
and  said,  "  M.  de  Simiane  is  just  come  in  from  the  Palais 
Royal,  and  he  thinks  it  fit  you  should  know  that  upon 
your  return  you  will  find  the  court  of  the  Palais  Royal 

1  In  the  Council  of  the  Regency,  the  Duke  of  Orleans  was 
obliged  to  admit  that  Law  issued  papers  to  the  amount  of  1,200 
millions  above  the  legal  sura;  and  that  he  (the  Regent)  had 
protected  him  from  all  responsibility  by  decrees  of  the  Council 
which  had  been  ante-dated.  The  total  amount  of  bank  notes  in 
circulation   was  2,700,000,000  livres. 


270  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

filled  with  people,  who,  though  they  do  not  say  anything, 
will  not  disperse." 

At  six  o'clock  this  morning  they  brought  in  three 
dead  bodies,  which  M.  Le  Blanc  ordered  to  be  carried 
away  immediately. 

Mr.  Law  has  taken  refuge  in  the  Palais  Royal. 
The  populace  have  done  him  no  harm,  but  his  coach- 
man has  been  pelted  on  his  return  and  the  carriage 
broken  to  pieces.  It  was  the  coachman's  own  fault,  who 
said  aloud  that  the  people  were  rabble,  and  ought  to  be 
all  hanged.  I  saw  immediately  that  it  would  not  do 
to  display  any  fear,  and  I  set  off.  There  was  such  a 
stoppage  of  the  carriages  that  I  was  obliged  to  wait  half 
an  hour  before  I  could  get  into  the  Palais  Royal.  During 
this  time  I  heard  the  people  talking;  they  said  nothing 
against  my  son,  and  bestowed  benedictions  upon  me,  but 
they  all  wished  Law  to  be  hanged.  When  I  reached  the 
Palais  Royal  all  was  calm  again  ;  my  son  came  to  me 
immediately,  and  notwithstanding  the  alarm  I  had  felt, 
he  made  me  laugh ;  as  for  himself,  he  had  not  the  least 
fear.  He  told  me  that  the  first  president  had  made  a 
good  impromptu  upon  this  affair.  Having  occasion  to 
go  down  into  the  court,  he  heard  what  the  people  had 
done  with  Law's  carriage,  and  upon  returning  to  the 
Salon,  he  said  with  great  gravity : — 

"  Messieurs,  bonne  nouvelle, 
Le  carrosse  de  Law  est  en  canelle." 

Is  not  this  a  becoming  jest  for  such  serious  personages  ? 
M.   Le  Blanc  went  into  the  midst  of  the  people  with 
great  firmness,   and  made  a  speech  to  them ;  he  after- 
wards had  Law  escorted  home  and  all  became  tranquil. 
It  is  almost  impossible  that  Law  should  escape,  for 


MR.    LAW  271 

the  same  soldiers  who  protect  him  from  the  fury  of  the 
people  will  not  permit  him  to  go  out  of  their  hands.  He 
is  by  no  means  at  his  ease,  and  yet  I  think  the  people  do 
not  now  intend  to  pursue  him  any  farther,  for  they  have 
begun  to  make  all  kinds  of  songs  about  him.  The  follow- 
ing are  some  of  the  verses  : — 


Law,  ne  devais  tu  pas  attendre 

A  faire  ta  conversion, 
Que  la  justice  te  fit  pendre, 

Pour  imiter  le  bon  larron  ? 

Aussitot  que  Law  arriva 

Dans  notre  bonne  ville, 
Monsieur  le  Regent  publia 

Qu'il  serait  fort  utile 
Pour  retablir  la  nation, 
La  faridondaine,  la  faridondon 

Mais  il  nous  a  tous  enrichis, 
Biribi, 

A  la  fa9on  de  Barbari, 
Mon  ami. 

Ce  parpaillot  pour  attirer 

Tout  I'argent  de  la  Franco 
Songea  d'abord  k  s'assurer 

De  notre  confiance ; 
II  fit  son  abjuration. 
La  faridondaine,  la  faridondon ; 

Mais  le  fourbe  s'est  converti, 
Biribi, 

A  la  fa9on  de  Barbari, 
Mon  ami. 

Jamais  de  si  barbares  lois 
N'ont  gouveru6  les  hommes; 

Qu'il  est  facheux  d'etre  Fran9ais 
Dans  le  temps  ou  nous  sommesi 

Tout  est  confusion, 


272  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

La  faridondaine,  la  faridondon, 
Chaque  jour  un  nouvel  6dit, 

Biribi, 
A  la  fa9on  de  Barbari, 

Mon  ami. 

Law  le  fils  aine  de  Satan 

Nous  met  tous  ä  I'aumone  ; 
II  nous  a  pris  tout  notre  argent 

Et  n'en  rend  ä  personne  ; 
Mais  le  Regent  humain  et  bon, 
La  faridondaine,  la  faridondon, 

Nous  revend  ce  qu'on  nous  a  pris, 
Biribi, 

A  la  fa9on  de  Barbari, 
Mon  ami. 

Law  is  said  to  be  in  such  an  agony  of  fear  that  he 
has  not  been  able  to  venture  to  my  son's  at  Saint  Cloud, 
although  he  sent  a  carriage  to  fetch  him.  He  is  a  dead 
man ;  he  is  as  pale  as  a  sheet,  and  it  is  said  can  never 
get  over  his  last  panic.  The  people's  hatred  of  the  Duke 
arises  from  his  being  the  friend  of  Law,  whose  children 
he  carried  to  Saint  Maur,  where  they  are  to  remain. 

M  Boursel,  passing  through  the  Rue  Saint  Antoine 
in  his  way  from  the  Jesuits'  College,  had  his  carriage 
stopped  by  a  hackney  coachman,  who  would  neither 
come  on  nor  go  back.  M.  Boursel's  footman,  enraged  at 
his  obstinacy,  struck  the  coachman,  and  M.  Boursel 
getting  out  of  his  coach  to  restrain  his  servant's  rage, 
the  coachman  resolved  to  be  avenged  of  both  master  and 
man,  and  so  began  to  cry  out,  "  Here  is  Law  going  to 
kill  me  ;  fall  upon  him." 

The  people  immediately  ran  with  staves  and  stones 
and  attacked  Boursel,  who  took  refuge  in  the  church  of 
the  Jesuits.     He  was  pursued  even  to  the  altar,  where  he 


MR.    LAW  273 

found  a  little  door  open  which  led  into  the  convent.  He 
rushed  through  and  shut  it  after  him,  by  which  means  he 
saved  his  life. 

M.  de  Chiverni,  the  tutor  of  the  Duke  de  Chartres, 
was  going  into  the  Palais  Royal  in  a  chair,  when  a  child 
of  about  eight  years  old  cried  out,  "There  goes  Law  !  " 
and  the  people  immediately  assembled.  M.  Chiverni, 
who  is  a  little  meagre-faced  ugly  old  man,  said  pleasantly 
enough,  "  I  knew  very  well  I  had  nothing  to  fear  when  I 
should  show  them  my  face  and  figure." 

As  soon  as  they  saw  him  they  suffered  him  to  get 
quietly  into  his  chair  and  to  enter  the  gates  of  the 
palace. 

On  the  loth  of  December  (1720),  Law  withdrew; 
he  is  now  at  one  of  his  estates  about  six  miles  from 
Paris.  The  Duke,  who  wished  to  visit  him,  thought 
proper  to  take  Mdlle.  de  Prie's  post-chaise,  and  put 
his  footman  into  a  grey  livery,  otherwise  the  people 
would  have  known  and  have  maltreated  him. 

Law  is  gone  to  Brussels  ;  Madame  de  Prie  lent  him 
her  chaise.  When  he  returned  it,  he  wrote  thanking 
her,  and  at  the  same  time  sent  her  a  ring  worth  100,000 
livres.  The  Duke  provided  him  with  relays,  and  made 
four  of  his  own  people  accompany  him.  When  he  took 
leave  of  my  son,  Law  said  to  him,  "  Monsieur,  I  have 
committed  several  great  faults,  but  they  are  merely  such 
as  are  incident  to  humanity ;  you  will  find  neither  malice 
nor  dishonesty  in  my  conduct."  His  wife  would  not  go 
away  until  she  had  paid  all  their  debts ;  he  owed  to  his 
rotisseur  alone  10,000  livres.^ 

I  Mr.  Law  retired  to  Venice,  and  there  ended  his  days.  Some 
memoirs  state  that  he  was  not  married  to  the  EngUshwoman  who 
passed  for  his  wife. 


SECT.   XXXV. 


VICTOR    AMADEUS,    KING    OF    SICILY. 

It  is  said  that  the  King  of  Sicily  is  always  in 
ill-humour,  and  that  he  is  always  quarrelling  with  his 
mistresses.  He  and  Madame  de  Verrue  have  quarrelled, 
they  say,  for  whole  days  together.  I  wonder  how  the 
good  Queen  can  love  him  with  such  constancy ;  but  she 
is  a  most  virtuous  person  and  patience  itself.  Since  the 
King  had  no  mistresses  he  lives  upon  better  terms  with 
her.     Devotion  has  softened  his  heart  and  his  temper. 

Madame  de  Verrue^  is,  I  dare  say,  forty-eight  years 

I  The  Countess  de  Verrue  was  married  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
years.  Victor  Amadeus,  then  King  of  Sardinia,  fell  in  love  with  her. 
She  would  have  resisted,  and  wrote  to  her  mother  and  her  husband, 
who  were  both  absent.  They  only  joked  her  about  it.  She  then 
took  that  step  which  all  the  world  knows.  At  the  age  of  eighteen, 
being  at  dinner  with  a  relation  of  her  husband's,  she  was  poisoned. 
The  person  she  suspected  was  the  same  that  was  dining  with  her ; 
he  did  not  quit  her,  and  wanted  to  have  her  blooded.  Just  at  this 
time  the  Spanish  ambassador  at  Piedmont  sent  her  a  counter-poison 
which  had  a  happy  effect :  she  recovered,  but  never  would  mention 
whom  she  suspected.  She  got  tired  of  the  King,  and  persuaded  her 
brother,  the  Chevalier  de  Lugner,  to  come  and  carry  her  off,  the 
King  being  then  upon  a  journey.  The  rendezvous  was  in  a  chapel 
about  four  leagues  distant  from  Turin.  She  had  a  little  parrot  with 
her.  Her  brother  arrived,  they  set  out  together,  and  after  having 
proceeded  four  leagues  on  her  journey  she  remembered  that  she  had 
forgotten  her  parrot  in  the  chapel.  Without  regarding  the  danger 
to  which  she  exposed  her  brother,  she  insisted  upon  returning  to 
look  for  her  parrot,  and  did  so.     She  died  at  Paris  in  the  beginning 


THE    KING    OF    SICILY  275 

of  age  (1718).  I  shared  some  of  the  profits  of  her  theft 
by  buying  of  her  i6o  medals  of  gold,  the  half  of  those 
which  she  stole  from  the  King  of  Sicily.  She  had  also 
boxes  filled  with  silver  medals,  but  they  were  all  sold 
in  England. 

of  the  reign  of  Louis  XV.  She  was  fond  of  literary  persons,  and 
collected  about  her  some  of  the  best  company  of  that  day,  among 
whom  her  wit  and  grace  enabled  her  to  cut  a  brilliant  figure.  She 
was  the  intimate  friend  of  the  poet  La  Faye,  whom  she  advised  in 
his  compositions,  and  whose  life  she  made  delightful.  Her  fondness 
for  the  arts  and  pleasure  procured  for  her  the  appellation  of  Dame  de 
Volupte,  and  she  wrote  this  epitaph  upon  herself : — 

"Ci  git,  dans  un  paix  profonde, 
Cette  Dame  de  Volupte, 
Qui,  pour  plus  grande  surete. 
Fit  son  Paradis  dans  ce  monde." — 

Sablier,  Varietes  serieuses  et  amüsantes,  tome  iii.  p.  346. 


18—2 


SECT.  XXXVI. 

THE    GRAND    DUCHESS,    WIFE    OF   COSMO    II.    OF    FLORENCE. 

The  Grand  Duchess  has  declared  to  me,  that  from 
the  day  on  which  she  set  out  for  Florence  she  thought  of 
nothing  but  her  return,  and  the  means  of  executing  this 
design  as  soon  as  she  should  be  able. 

No  one  could  approve  of  her  deserting  her  husband, 
and  the  more  particularly  as  she  speaks  very  well  of  him, 
and  describes  the  manner  of  living  at  Florence  as  like  a 
terrestrial  paradise. 

She  does  not  think  herself  unfortunate  for  having 
travelled,  and  looks  upon  all  the  grandeur  she  enjoyed  at 
Florence  as  not  to  be  compared  with  the  unrestrained 
way  of  living  in  which  she  indulges  here.  She  is  very 
amusing  when  she  relates  her  own  history,  in  the  course 
of  which  she  by  no  means  flatters  herself. 

"  Indeed,  cousin,"  I  say  to  her  often,  "you  do  not 
flatter  yourself,  but  you  really  tell  things  which  make 
against  you." 

"  Ah,  no  matter,"  she  replies,  "  I  care  not,  provided 
I  never  see  the  Grand  Duke  again." 

She  cannot  be  accused  of  any  amorous  intrigue. 
Her  husband  furnishes  her  with  very  little  money  ;  and 
at  this  moment  (April,  1718)  he  owes  her  fifteen  months 
of  her  pension.  She  is  now  really  in  want  of  money  to 
enable  her  to  take  the  waters  of  Bourbon.  The  Grand 
Duke,  who  is  very  avaricious,  thinks  she  will  die  soon, 
and  therefore  holds  back  the  payments  that  he  may  take 
advantage  of  that  event  when  it  shall  happen. 


SECT.  XXXVII. 

THE  DUCHESS  OF  LORRAINE,  ELISABETH  -  CHARLOTTE 
PHILIPPINE  d'oRLEANS,  CONSORT  OF  LEOPOLD-JOSEPH- 
CHARLES    DE    LORRAINE. 

My  daughter  is  ugly;  even  more  so  than  she  was, 
for  the  fine  complexion  which  she  once  had  has  become 
sun-burnt.  This  makes  a  great  difference  in  the  appear- 
ance, and  causes  a  person  to  look  old.  She  has  an  ugly 
round  nose,  and  her  eyes  are  sunken ;  but  her  shape  is 
preserved,  and  as  she  dances  well,  and  her  manners  are 
easy  and  polished,  any  one  may  see  that  she  is  a  person 
of  breeding.  I  know  many  people  who  pique  themselves 
upon  their  good  manners,  and  who  still  have  not  so  much 
reason  as  she  has.  At  all  events  I  am  content  with  my 
child  as  she  is ;  and  I  would  rather  see  her  ugly  and 
virtuous  than  pretty  and  profligate  like  the  rest. 

Whenever  the  time  of  her  accouchement  approaches, 
she  never  fails  to  bid  her  friends  adieu,  in  the  notion  that 
she  will  die.  Fortunately  she  has  hitherto  always  escaped 
well. 

When  jealousy  is  once  suffered  to  take  root,  it  is 
impossible  to  extirpate  it — therefore  it  is  better  not  to  let 
it  gain  ground.  My  daughter  pretends  not  to  be  affected 
by  her's,  but  she  often  suffers  great  affliction  from  it. 
This  is  not  astonishing,  because  she  is  very  fond  of  her 
children ;  and  the  woman  with  whom  the  Duke  is 
infatuated,  together  with  her  husband,  do  not  leave  him 


278  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

a  farthing ;  they  completely  ruin  his  household.  Craon 
is  an  accursed  cuckold  and  a  treacherous  man.  The 
Duke  de  Lorraine  knows  that  my  daughter  is  acquainted 
with  everything,  and  I  believe  he  likes  her  the  better 
that  she  does  not  remonstrate  with  him,  but  endures  all 
patiently.  He  is  occasionally  kind  to  her,  and  provided 
that  he  only  says  tender  things  to  her,  she  is  content  and 
cheerful. 

I  should  almost  believe  that  the  Duke's  mistress  has 
given  him  a  philtre,  as  Neidschin  did  to  the  Elector  of 
Saxony.  When  he  does  not  see  her,  it  is  said  he  perspires 
copiously  at  the  head,  and  in  order  that  the  cuckold  of  a 
husband  may  say  nothing  about  the  affair,  the  Duke 
suffers  him  to  do  whatever  he  pleases.  He  and  his 
wife,  who  is  gouvernante,  rule  everything,  although 
neither  the  one  nor  the  other  has  any  feeling  of  honour. 
She  is  to  come  hither,  it  seems,  with  the  Duke  and 
Duchess. 

The  Duke  of  Lorraine  is  here  incog^  under  the  title 
of  the  Count  de  Blamont.  Formerly  the  chase  was  his 
greatest  passion ;  but  now,  it  seems,  the  swain  is  wholly 
amorous.  It  is  in  vain  for  him  to  attempt  to  conceal  it  ; 
for  the  more  he  tries,  the  more  apparent  it  becomes. 
When  you  would  suppose  he  is  about  to  address  you,  his 
head  will  turn  round,  and  his  eyes  wander  in  search  of 
Madame  Craon :  it  is  quite  diverting  to  see  him.  I 
cannot  conceive  how  my  daughter  can  love  her  husband 

I  He  came  to  Paris  for  the  purpose  of  soliciting  an  arrondisse- 
ment  in  Champagne  and  the  title  of  Royal  Highness.  Through  the 
influence  of  his  mother-in-law  he  obtained  both  the  one  and  the 
other.  By  virtue  of  a  treaty  very  disadvantageous  for  France,  but 
which  was  nevertheless  registered  by  the  Parliament,  he  increased 
his  states  by  adding  to  them  a  great  number  of  villages. 


THE    DUCHESS   OF   LORRAINE  279 

SO  well,  and  yet  not  display  more  jealousy.  It  is  im- 
possible for  a  man  to  be  more  amorous  than  the  Duke  is 
of  Craon  (19th  April,  1718). 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  she  (Madame  de  Craon)  is 
full  of  agreeable  qualities.  Although  she  is  not  a  beauty, 
she  has  a  good  shape,  a  fine  skin,  and  a  very  white 
complexion ;  but  her  greatest  charms  are  her  mouth  and 
teeth.  When  she  laughs  it  is  in  a  very  pleasing  and 
modest  manner ;  she  behaves  properly  and  respectfully  in 
my  daughter's  presence  ;  if  she  did  the  same  when  she  is 
not  with  her,  one  would  have  nothing  to  complain  of.  It 
is  not  surprising  that  such  a  woman  should  be  beloved ; 
she  really  deserves  it.  But  she  treats  her  lover  with 
the  utmost  haughtiness,  as  if  she  were  the  Duchess  of 
Lorraine  and  he  M.  de  Luneville.  I  never  saw  a  man 
more  passionately  attached  than  he  appears  to  be ;  when 
she  is  not  present,  he  fixes  his  eyes  upon  the  door  with 
an  expression  of  anxiety ;  when  she  appears,  he  smiles 
and  is  calm  ;  it  is  really  very  droll  to  observe  him.  She, 
on  the  contrary,  wishes  to  prevent  persons  from  per- 
ceiving it,  and  seems  to  care  nothing  about  him.  As  the 
Duke  was  crossing  a  hall  here  with  her  upon  his  arm, 
some  of  the  people  said  aloud,  "  That  is  the  Duke  de 
Lorraine  with  his  mistress."  IMadame  Craon  wept 
bitterly,  and  insisted  upon  the  Duke  complaining  of  it  to 
his  brother.  The  Duke  did  in  fact  complain ;  but  my 
son  laughed  at  him,  and  replied,  '*  that  the  King  himself 
could  not  prevent  that ;  that  he  should  despise  such 
things,  and  seem  not  to  hear  them." 

Madame  Craon  was  my  daughter's  filh  d'honnem; 
she  was  then  called  Mademoiselle  de  Ligneville,  and  there 
it  was  that  the  Duke  fell  in  love  with  her.    M.  Craon  was 


28o  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

in  disgrace  with  the  Duke,  who  was  about  to  dismiss 
him  as  a  rascal,  for  having  practised  a  sharping  trick  at 
play  ;  but  as  he  is  a  cunning  fellow  he  perceived  the 
Duke's  love  for  Mademoiselle  de  Ligneville,  although  he 
pretended  to  make  a  great  mystery  of  it.  About  this  time 
Madame  de  Lenoncourt,  my  daughter's  dmne  d'atour,  hap- 
pened to  die :  the  Duke  managed  to  have  Mademoiselle 
de  Ligneville  appointed  in  her  room  ;  and  Craon,  who  is 
rich,  offered  to  marry  this  poor  lady.  The  Duke  was 
delighted  with  the  plan  of  marrying  her  to  one  who 
would  lend  himself  to  the  intrigue ;  and  thus  she  became 
Madame  de  Craon,  and  dame  d'atour.  The  old  goiivernante 
dying  soon  afterwards,  my  daughter  thought  to  gratify 
her  husband  as  well  as  Madame  de  Craon,  by  appointing 
her  dame  d'Jwnncur ;  and  this  it  is  that  has  brought  such 
disgrace  upon  her. 

My  daughter  is  in  despair ;  Craon  and  his  wife  want 
to  take  a  journey  of  ten  days,  for  the  purpose  of  buying 
a  marquisate  worth  800,000  livres.  The  Duke  will  not 
remain  during  this  time  with  his  wife,  but  chooses  it  for 
an  opportunity  to  visit  all  the  strong  places  of  Alsatia. 
He  will  stay  away  until  the  return  of  his  mistress  and 
her  husband;  and  this  it  is  which  makes  my  poor 
daughter  so  unhappy.  The  Duke  now  neither  sees 
nor  hears  anything  but  through  Craon,  his  wife,  and 
their  creatures. 

I  do  not  think  that  my  daughter's  attachment  to  her 
husband  is  so  strong  as  it  used  to  be,  and  yet  I  think  she 
loves  him  very  much  ;  for  every  proof  of  fondness  which 
he  gives  her  rejoices  her  so  much,  that  she  sends  me 
word  of  it  immediately.  He  can  make  her  believe  what- 
ever he  chooses  ;  and,  although  she  cannot   doubt   tha 


THE    DUCHESS    OF    LORRAINE  281 

Duke's  passion  for  Madame  de  Craon,  yet  when  he  says 
that  he  feels  only  friendship  for  her,  that  he  is  quite 
willing  to  give  up  seeing  her,  only  that  he  fears  by  doing 
so  he  would  dishonour  her  in  the  eyes  of  the  public, 
and  that  there  is  nothing  he  is  not  ready  to  do  for  his 
wife's  repose,  she  receives  all  he  says  literally,  beseeches 
him  to  continue  to  see  Madame  de  Craon  as  usual,  and 
fancies  that  her  husband  is  tenderly  attached  to  her, 
while  he  is  really  laughing  at  her.  If  I  were  in  my 
daughter's  place,  the  Duke's  falsehood  would  disgust  me 
more  than  his  infidelity. 

What  appears  to  me  the  most  singular  in  this 
intrigue  is  that  the  Duke  is  as  fond  of  the  husband  as  of 
the  wife,  and  that  he  cannot  live  without  him.  This  is 
very  difficult  to  comprehend  ;  but  M.  de  Craon  under- 
stands it  well,  and  makes  the  most  of  it ;  he  has  already 
bought  an  estate  for  1,100,000  livres.^ 

The  burning  of  Luneville  was  not  the  effect  of  an 
accident ;  it  is  well  known  that  some  of  the  people 
stopped  a  woman's  mouth,  who  was  crying  out  "  Fire  !" 
A  person  was  also  heard  to  say,  "  It  was  not  I  who 
set  it  on  fire."  My  daughter  thinks  that  old  Maintenon 
would  have  them  all  burnt ;  for  the  person  who  cried 
out  has  been  employed,  it  seems,  in  the  house  of  the 
Duke  de  Noailles.  For  my  part,  I  am  rather  disposed 
to  believe  it  was  the  young  mistress,  Madame  de  Craon, 
who  had  a  share  in  this  matter ;  for  Luneville  is  my 
daughter's  residence  and  dowry. 

I  The  Marquis  de  Craon  was  Grand  Chamberlain  and  Prime 
Minister  of  the  Duke  de  Lorraine ;  who,  moreover,  procured  for 
him  from  the  Emperor  of  Germany  the  title  of  Prince.  This 
favourite  married  one  of  his  daughters  to  the  Prince  of  Lixin,  of 
the  House  of  Lorraine. 


SECT.  XXXVIII. 

THE    DUKE    DU    MAINE,    LOUIS    AUGUSTUS. 

The  Duke  du  Maine  flattered  himself  that  he  would 
marry  my  daughter.  Madame  de  Maintenon  and  Madame 
de  Montespan  were  arranging  this  project  in  presence  of 
several  merchants,  to  whom  they  paid  no  attention,  but 
the  latter,  engaging  in  the  conversation,  said,  "  Ladies, 
do  not  think  of  any  such  thing,  for  it  will  cost  you 
your  lives  if  you  bring  about  that  marriage." 

Madame  de  Maintenon  was  dreadfully  frightened  at 
this,  and  immediately  went  to  the  King  to  persuade  him 
to  relinquish  the  affair. 

The  Duke  du  Maine  possesses  talent,  which  he 
displays  particularly  in  his  manner  of  relating  anything. 
He  knows  very  well  who  is  his  mother,  but  he  has  never 
had  the  least  affection  for  anyone  but  his  gouvernante, 
against  whom  he  never  bore  ill-will,  although  she  dis- 
placed his  mother  and  put  herself  in  her  room.  My  son 
will  not  believe  that  the  Duke  du  Maine  is  the  King's 
son.  He  has  always  been  treacherous,  and  is  feared 
and  hated  at  Court  as  an  arch  tale-bearer.  He  has  done 
many  persons  very  ill  offices  with  the  King ;  and  those 
in  particular  to  whom  he  promised  most,  were  those  who 
have  had  the  greatest  reason  to  complain  of  him.  His 
little  wife  is  worse  even  than  he,  for  the  husband  is  some- 
times restrained  by  fear ;  but  she  mingles  the  pathetic 
occasionally  in  her  comedies.     It  is  certain   that  there 


THE    DUKE    DU    MAINE  283 

does  not  exist  a  more  false  and  wicked  couple  in  the 
whole  world  than  they  are. 

I  can  readily  believe  that  the  Count  de  Toulouse  is 
the  King's  son ;  but  I  have  always  thought  that  the 
Duke  du  Maine  is  the  son  of  Terme,  who  was  a  false 
knave,  and  the  greatest  tale-bearer  in  the  Court. ^  That 
old  Maintenon  had  persuaded  the  King  that  the  Duke  du 
Maine  was  full  of  piety  and  virtue.  When  he  reported 
evil  tales  of  any  persons,  she  pretended  that  it  was  for 
their  good,  and  to  induce  the  King  to  correct  them.  The 
King  was,  therefore,  induced  to  fancy  everything  he  did 
admirable,  and  to  take  him  for  a  saint.  The  confessor, 
Le  Pere  Le  Tellier,  contributed  to  keep  up  this  good 
opinion  in  order  to  pay  court  to  the  old  woman ;  and  the 
late  Chancellor,  M.  Voisin,  by  her  orders  continued  to 
aid  the  King's  delusion. 

The  Duke  du  Maine  fancied  that,  since  he  had 
succeeded  in  getting  himself  declared  a  Prince  of  the 
blood,  he  should  not  find  it  difficult  on  that  account  to 
attain  the  royal  dignity,  and  that  he  could  easily  arrange 
everything  with  respect  to  my  son  and  the  other  Princes 
of  the  blood.  For  this  reason  he  and  the  old  woman 
industriously  circulated  the  report  that  my  son  had 
poisoned  the  Dauphine  and  the  Duke  de  Berri.  The 
Duke  du  Maine  was  instigated  by  Madame  de  Montespan 

I  Terme  was  of  the  same  family  as  Madame  de  Montespan  ;  but 
was  noble  no  otherwise  than  by  his  birth,  and  was  so  poor  and  so 
mean-spirited  that  he  did  not  scruple  to  do  everything  in  his  power 
to  become  the  King's  first  valet  de  chambre.  He  was  so  universally 
suspected  of  telling  the  King  whatever  he  saw  or  heard,  that  he 
stood  alone  in  the  Court,  and  nobody  would  speak  to  him  or  receive 
his  visits.  The  Duke  and  Madame  de  Conti  hired  some  Swiss 
porters,  who  beat  him  so  severely  that  he  was  obliged  to  keep  his 
bed  for  several  days. — Notes  to  the  Journal  de  Dan^eau. 


284  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

and  Madame  de  Maintenon  to  report  things  secretly  to 
the  King  ;  at  first  for  the  purpose  of  making  him  bark 
Uke  a  cur  at  all  whom  they  disliked,  and  afterwards  for 
the  King's  diversion,  and  to  make  themselves  beloved 
by  him. 

These  bastards  are  of  so  bad  a  disposition  that  God 
knows  who  was  their  father. 

Yesterday  the  Parliament  presented  its  remonstrance 
to  my  son.  It  is  not  difficult  to  guess  whence  this  affair 
proceeds.  They  were  closeted  for  four  hours  together 
with  the  Duke  and  Duchess  du  Maine,  who  had  the 
councillors  brought  thither  in  their  coach,  and  attended 
by  their  own  livery  servants  (20th  June,  1718). 

I  believe  that  my  son  is  only  restrained  from  acting 
rigorously  against  the  Duke  du  Maine  because  he  fears 
the  tears  and  anger  of  his  wife ;  and,  in  the  second  place, 
he  has  an  affection  for  his  other  brother-in-law,  the 
Count  de  Toulouse. 

That  old  woman  must  surely  think  herself  immortal, 
for  she  still  hopes  to  reign,  though  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three  years.  The  Duke  du  Maine's  affair  is  a  severe 
blow  for  her.  She  is,  nevertheless,  not  without  hope, 
and  it  is  said  not  excessively  grieved.  This  fills  me  with 
anxiety,  for  I  know  too  well  how  expert  the  wicked  old 
hussy  is  in  the  use  of  poison. 

The  first  President  of  Mesmes  ought  to  be  friendly 
towards  the  Duke  du  Maine,  to  whom  he  is  indebted  for 
the  office  he  holds.  The  Duke  keeps  all  his  places :  as 
to  that  of  Grand  Master  of  Artillery,  they  could  not  take 
it  away  unless  they  had  proceeded  to  extremities  with 
him. 

The   Duke  became    so   devout   in    his   prison,    and 


THE    DUKE    DU    MAINE  285 

during  Passion  week  he  fasted  so  rigorously,  that  he  fell 
sick  in  consequence.  He  says  that  he  is  innocent  and 
that  he  has  gained  heaven  by  the  purity  of  his  conduct : 
this  renders  him  gay  and  contented.  He  is  not,  besides, 
of  a  sorrowful  temper,  but,  on  the  contrary,  is  fond  of 
jests  and  merry  tales.  He  does  not  speak  ill  of  persons 
publicly  ;  it  was  only  to  the  King  he  used  to  denounce 
them. 

Yesterday  my  son  was  requested  to  permit  the 
Duke  du  Maine  to  be  reconciled  with  his  wife.  His 
answer  was,  "  They  might  have  been  reconciled  without 
speaking  to  me  about  it,  for  whether  they  become  friends 
again  or  not,  I  know  what  to  think  of  them." 


\ 


SECT.   XXXIX. 

THE    DUCHESS    DU    MAINE,    LOUISE-BENOIXfi,    DAUGHTER 
OF    HENRI    JULES    DE    CONDE. 

Madame  du  Maine  is  not  taller  than  a  child  of  ten 
years  old,  and  is  not  well  made.  To  appear  tolerably 
well,  it  is  necessary  for  her  to  keep  her  mouth  shut ;  tor 
when  she  opens  it,  she  opens  it  very  wide,  and  shows  her 
irregular  teeth.  She  is  not  very  stout,  uses  a  great 
quantity  of  paint,  has  fine  eyes,  a  white  skin,  and  fair 
hair.  If  she  were  well  disposed,  she  might  pass,  but  her 
wickedness  is  insupportable. 

She  has  good  sense,  is  accomplished,  and  can  talk 
agreeably  on  most  subjects.  This  brings  about  her  a 
host  of  learned  men  and  wits.  She  flatters  the  dis- 
contented very  adroitly,  and  says  all  ill  things  of  my  son. 
This  is  the  secret  by  which  she  has  made  her  party. 
Her  husband  is  fond  of  her,  and  she  in  turn  piques 
herself  upon  her  love  for  him  ;  but  I  should  be  sorry  to 
swear  to  her  sincerity.  This  at  least  is  certain,  that  she 
rules  the  Duke  du  Maine  absolutely.  As  he  holds 
several  offices,  he  can  provide  for  a  great  number  of 
persons,  either  in  the  regiment  of  Guards,  of  which  he 
is  General ;  or  in  the  Artillery,  of  which  he  is  Grand 
Master ;  or  in  the  Carabineers,  where  he  appoints  all  the 
officers  ;  without  reckoning  his  regiments,  by  which  he 
attracts  a  great  number  of  persons. 

Madame  du  Maine's  present  lover  is  the  Cardinal 


THE    DUCHESS    DU    MAINE  287 

de  Polignac;  but  she  has,  besides,  the  first  Minister 
and  some  young  men.  The  Cardinal  is  accused  of 
having  assisted  in  the  refutation  of  Fitz  Morrice's  letters,^ 
although  he  has  had  this  very  year  (1718)  a  long  inter- 
view with  my  son,  and  has  sworn  never  to  engage 
in  anything  against  his  interests,  notwithstanding  his 
attachment  to  the  Duchess  du  Maine. 

The  Count  d'Albert,  who  was  here  last  winter,  took 
some  pains  to  make  himself  agreeable  to  Madame  du 
Maine,  and  succeeded  so  well  as  to  make  the  Cardinal 
de  Polignac  very  jealous.  He  followed  them  masked 
to  a  ball ;  but  upon  seeing  the  Duchess  and  the  Count 
tete-ä-tete,  he  could  not  contain  his  anger :  this  betrayed 
him ;  and  when  the  people  learned  that  a  Cardinal 
had  been  seen  at  a  masqued  ball  it  caused  them  great 
diversion. 

Her  being  arrested  threw  Madame  du  Maine  into 
such  a  transport  of  rage  that  she  was  near  choking,  and 
only  recovered  herself  by  slow  degrees.^  She  is  now 
said  to  be  quite  calm;  and  it  is  added,  she  plays  at  cards 
all  day  long.  When  the  play  is  over,  she  grows  angry 
again,  and  falls  upon  her  husband,  his  children,  or  her 
servants,  who  do  not  know  how  to  appease  her.  She 
is  dreadfully  violent ;  and  it  is  said,  has  often  beaten  her 
husband. 

1  Lcttres  de  Fitz-Moritz  sur  les  Affaires  du  Temps. 

2  The  Marquis  d'Ancenis,  Captain  of  the  Guards,  who  came 
early  in  the  morning  to  arrest  the  Princess,  had  supped  with  her 
on  the  preceding  evening.  When  he  entered,  the  Duchess  cried  out 
to  him,  "  Mon  Dieu!  what  have  I  done  to  you,  that  you  should  wake 
me  so  early?  "  The  chief  domestics  of  the  household  were  taken  to 
the  Bastille  or  to  Vincennes  :  the  Prince  of  Donibes  and  the  Count 
d'Eu  were  carried  to  Eu. 


288  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

All  the  time  of  her  residence  at  Dijon  she  was 
playing  the  Orlando  Furioso  :  sometimes  she  was  not 
treated  with  the  respect  due  to  her  rank  ;  sometimes  she 
complains  of  other  things  ;  she  will  not  understand  that 
she  is  a  prisoner,  and  that  she  has  deserved  even  a  worse 
fate.  She  had  flattered  herself  that  when  she  should 
reach  Chalons-sur-Saone  she  would  enjoy  more  liberty, 
and  have  the  whole  city  for  her  prison ;  but  when  she 
learnt  that  she  was  to  be  locked  up  in  the  citadel,  as 
at  Dijon,  she  would  not  set  out.  Far  from  repenting 
her  treason,  she  fancies  she  has  done  something  very 
praiseworthy. 

Melancholy  as  I  am,  my  son  has  made  me  laugh 
by  telling  me  what  has  been  found  in  Madame  du 
Maine's  letters,  seized  at  the  Cardinal  de  Polignac's. 
In  one  of  her  letters,  this  very  discreet  and  virtuous 
personage  writes,  "  We  are  going  into  the  country  to- 
morrow ;  and  I  shall  so  arrange  the  apartments  that 
your  chamber  shall  be  next  to  mine.  Try  to  manage 
matters  as  well  as  you  did  the  last  time,  and  we  shall 
be  very  happy." 

The  Princess  knows  very  well  that  her  daughter  has 
had  an  intrigue  with  the  Cardinal,  and  has  endeavoured 
to  break  it  off.  For  this  purpose  she  has  convinced  her 
by  the  Cardinal's  own  letters  that  he  is  unfaithful  to  her, 
and  prefers  a  certain  Montauban  to  her.  This,  how- 
ever, has  had  no  effect.  The  Duke  du  Maine  has  been 
informed  of  everything,  and  he  writes  to  her  sister, 
•'  I  ought  not  to  be  put  into  prison,  but  into  petti- 
coats, for  having  suffered   myself   to  be  so  led   by  the 


nose. 


He  has  resolved  never  to  see  his  wife  again,  although 


THE    DUCHESS    DU    MAINE  289 

he  does  not  yet  know  of  the  Duchess's  letter  to  the 
Cardinal,  nor  of  the  other  measures  she  has  taken 
for  the  purpose  of  decorating  her  husband's  brows. 

Madame  du  Maine  will  eventually  become  really 
crazy,  for  she  is  dreadfully  troubled  with  the  vapours. 
Her  mother  has  entreated  my  son  to  let  her  daughter 
be  brought  to  her  house  at  Anet,  where  she  will  be 
answerable  for  her  conduct  and  suffer  her  to  speak 
with  no  one. 

My  son  replied,  "that  if  Madame  du  Maine  had 
only  conspired  against  his  life,  he  would  have  pardoned 
her  with  all  his  heart  ;  but  that  as  her  offence  had 
been  committed  against  the  State,  he  was  obhged,  in 
spite  of  himself,  to  keep  her  in  prison." 

It  is  not  true  that  the  Duke  du  Maine  has  per- 
mission to  hunt  ;  he  is  only  allowed  to  ride  upon  a 
hired  horse  round  the  citadel,  to  take  the  air  in  the 
company  of  four  persons. 

The  Abbe  de  Maulevrier  and  Mademoiselle  de 
Langeron  persuaded  the  Princess  that  Madame  du 
Maine  was  at  the  point  of  death,  and  was  only  desirous 
of  seeing  her  dear  mother  before  she  expired,  to  receive 
her  last  benediction,  as  she  should  die  innocent.  The 
Princess  immediately  set  out  in  great  anxiety  and  with 
deep  grief;  but  was  strangely  surprised,  on  arriving  at 
her  daughter's  house,  to  see  her  come  to  meet  her  in 
very  good  health.  Mademoiselle  de  Langeron  said  that 
the  Duchess  concealed  her  illness  that  she  might  not 
make  her  mother  unhappy. 

After  the  confession  which  Madame  du  Maine 
thought  proper  to  make,  which  she  has  confirmed  by 
writing,  my  son  has  set  her  at  hberty,  and  has  permitted 

19 


290  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

her  to  come  to  Sceaux.  She  is  terribly  mortified  at  her 
letter  being  read  in  the  open  Council.  As  she  has 
declared  in  her  confession  that  she  had  done  everything 
without  her  husband's  knowledge,  although  in  his  name, 
he  too  has  been  permitted  to  return  to  his  estate  of 
Chavigny,  near  Versailles. 

Madame  du  Maine  had  written  to  my  son  that 
in  the  event  of  her  having  omitted  anything  in  her 
declaration,  he  would  only  have  to  ask  Mademoiselle  de 
Launay  about  it.  He  sent  in  consequence  for  that  lady, 
to  ask  her  some  questions.  Mademoiselle  de  Launay 
replied:  "  I  do  not  know  whether  her  imprisonment  may 
have  turned  my  mistress's  brain,  but  it  has  not  had 
the  same  effect  upon  me :  I  neither  know,  nor  will  I 
say  anything." 

Madame  du  Maine  had  gained  over  certain  gentle- 
men in  all  the  Provinces,  and  had  tampered  with  them 
to  induce  them  to  revolt ;  but  none  of  them  would 
swallow  the  bait  excepting  in  Brittany. 

She  has  not  been  at  the  theatre  yet ;  meaning  by 
this,  to  intimate  that  she  is  still  afflicted  at  lying  under 
her  husband's  displeasure.  It  is  said  that  she  has 
written  to  him,  but  that  he  has  returned  her  letter 
unopened. 

She  came  some  days  ago  to  see  my  son,  and  to 
request  him  not  to  oppose  a  reconciliation  between 
herself  and  her  husband.  My  son  laughed  and  said, 
"I  will  not  interfere  in  it;  for  have  I  not  learned 
from  Sganarelle  that  it  is  not  wise  to  put  one's  finger 
between  the  bark  and  the  tree?"  The  town  says  they 
will  be  reconciled.  If  this  really  should  take  place,  I 
shall  say  as  my  father  used:  "  Agree  together,  bad  onesl" 


THE    DUCHESS    DU    MAINE  29I 

T^Iy  son  tells  me  that  the  little  Duchess  has  again 
besought  him  to  reconcile  her  with  her  husband.  My 
son  replied,  "that  it  depended  much  more  upon  herself 
than  upon  him."  I  do  not  know  whether  she  took  this 
for  a  compliment,  or  what  crotchet  she  had  got  in  her 
head,  but  she  suddenly  jumped  up  from  the  sofa,  and 
clung  about  my  son's  neck,  kissing  him  on  both  cheeks 
in  spite  of  himself  (i8th  June,  1720), 

The  Duke  du  Maine  is  entirely  reconciled  to  his 
dear  moiety.  I  am  not  surprised,  for  I  have  been  long 
expecting  it. 


19 — 2 


SECT.  XL 

LOUVOIS. 

M.  DE  Lou  vol  s  was  a  person  of  a  very  wicked 
disposition;  he  hated  his  father  and  brother,  and  as  they 
were  my  very  good  friends,  this  minister  made  me  feel 
his  disHke  of  them.  His  hatred  was  also  increased, 
because  he  knew  that  I  was  acquainted  with  his  ill- 
treatment  of  my  father,  and  that  I  had  no  reason  in 
the  world  to  like  him.  He  feared  that  I  should  seek 
to  take  vengeance  upon  him,  and  for  this  reason  he 
was  always  exciting  the  King  against  me.  Upon  this 
point  alone  did  he  agree  with  that  old  Maintenon. 

I  beheve  that  Louvois  had  a  share  in  the  conspiracy 
by  which  Langhans  and  Winkler  compassed  my  poor 
brother's^  death.  When  the  King  had  taken  the  Palatin- 
ate, I  required  him  to  arrest  the  culprits  ;  the  King  gave 
orders  for  it,  and  they  were  in  fact  seized,  but  after- 
wards liberated  by  a  counter-order  of  Louvois.  Heaven, 
however,  took  care  of  their  punishment  for  the  crime 
which  they  had  committed  upon  my  poor  brother  ;  for 
Langhans  died  in  the  most  abject  wretchedness,  and 
Winkler  went  mad  and  beat  his  own  brains  out. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  King  spoke  very  harshly 
to  Louvois,  but  certainly  he  did  not  treat  him  as  has 
been   pretended,    for   the    King   was   incapable   of   such 

I  The  Elector  Charles,  who  died  in  1685,  was  the  last  Elector- 
Palatine  of  the  family  of  Simmeren. 


LOUVOIS  293 

an  action.  Louvois  was  a  brute  and  an  insolent 
person  ;  but  he  served  the  King  faithfully,  and  much 
better  than  any  other  person.  He  did  not,  however, 
forget  his  own  interest,  and  played  his  cards  very  well. 
He  was  horridly  depraved ;  and  by  his  impoliteness  and 
the  grossness  of  his  replies  made  himself  universally 
hated.  He  might,  perhaps,  believe  in  the  Devil ;  but 
he  did  not  believe  in  God.  He  had  faith  in  all  manner 
of  predictions,  but  he  did  not  scruple  to  burn,  poison, 
lie,  and  cheat. 

If  he  did  not  love  me  very  well,  I  was  at  least 
even  with  him ;  and  for  the  latter  part  of  his  time,  he 
conducted  himself  somewhat  better.  I  was  one  of  the 
last  persons  to  whom  he  spoke,  and  I  was  even  shocked 
when  it  was  announced  that  the  man  with  whom  I  had 
been  conversing  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before,  and  who 
did  not  look  ill,  was  no  more. 

They  have  not  yet  learnt,  although  I  have  resided 
so  long  in  France,  to  respect  my  seal.  M.  de  Louvois 
used  to  have  all  my  letters  opened  and  read  ;  and 
M.  Torcy,  following  his  noble  example,  has  not  been 
more  courteous  to  me.  Formerly  they  used  to  open 
them  for  the  purpose  of  finding  something  to  my 
prejudice,  and  now  (17 18)  they  open  them  through 
mere  habit. 


SECT.  XLI 

LOUIS   XV. 

It  is  impossible  for  any  child  to  be  more  agreeable 
than  our  young  King ;  he  has  large  dark  eyes  and  long 
crisp  eyelashes  ;  a  good  complexion,  a  charming  little 
mouth,  long  and  thick  dark  brown  hair,  little  red  cheeks, 
a  stout  and  well-formed  body,  and  very  pretty  hands  and 
feet ;  his  gait  is  noble  and  lofty,  and  he  puts  on  his  hat 
exactly  like  the  late  King.  The  shape  of  his  face  is 
neither  too  long  nor  too  short ;  but  the  worst  thing,  and 
which  he  inherits  from  his  mother,  is,  that  he  changes 
colour  very  frequently.  Sometimes  he  looks  ill,  but  in 
half  an  hour  his  colour  will  have  returned.  His  manners 
are  easy,  and  it  may  be  said,  without  flattery,  that  he 
dances  very  well.  He  is  quick  and  clever  in  all  that 
he  attempts;  he  has  already  (1720)  begun  to  shoot  at 
pheasants  and  partridges,  and  has  a  great  passion  for 
shooting. 

He  is  as  like  his  mother  as  one  drop  of  water  is  to 
another  ;  he  has  sense  enough,  and  all  that  he  seems  to 
want  is  a  little  more  affability.  He  is  terribly  haughty, 
and  already  knows  what  respect  is.  His  look  is  what 
may  be  called  agreeable,  but  his  air  is  milder  than  his 
character,  for  his  little  head  is  rather  an  obstinate  and 
wilful  one. 

The  young  King  was  full  of  grief  when  Madame 
de  Ventadour  quitted  him.  She  said  to  him,  "  Sire,  I 
shall  come  back  this  evening ;  mind  that  you  behave 
very  well  during  my  absence." 


LOUIS   XV  295 

"  My  dear  mamma,"  replied  he,  "  if  you  leave  me 
I  cannot  behave  well." 

He  does  not  care  at  all  for  any  of  the  other  women. 

The  Marshal  de  Villeroi  teases  the  young  King 
sometimes  about  not  speaking  to  me  enough,  and  some- 
times about  not  walking  with  me.  This  afflicts  the  poor 
child  and  makes  him  cry.  His  figure  is  neat,  but  he 
will  speak  only  to  persons  he  is  accustomed  to. 

On  the  i2th  August  (1717),  the  young  King  fell  out 
of  his  bed  in  the  morning ;  a  valet  de  chamhre,  who  saw 
him  falHng,  threw  himself  adroitly  on  the  ground,  so 
that  the  child  might  tumble  upon  him  and  not  hurt 
himself;  the  little  rogue  thrust  himself  under  the  bed  and 
would  not  speak,  that  he  might  frighten  his  attendants. 

The  King's  brother  died  of  the  small-pox  in  con- 
sequence of  being  injudiciously  blooded;  this  one,  who 
is  younger  than  his  brother,  was  also  attacked,  but  the 
femme  de  chamhre  concealed  it,  kept  him  warm,  and  con- 
tinued to  give  him  Alicant  wine,  by  which  means  they 
preserved  his  life. 

The  King  has  invented  an  order  which  he  bestows 
upon  the  boys  with  whom  he  plays.  It  is  a  blue  and 
white  ribbon,  to  which  is  suspended  an  enamelled  oval 
plate,  representing  a  star  and  the  tent  or  pavilion  in 
which  he  plays  on  the  terrace  (171 7). 


SECT.    XLII 

ANECDOTES     AND     HISTORICAL     PARTICULARS     RELATING 
TO    VARIOUS    PERSONS. 

Some  horrible  books  had  been  written  against 
Cardinal  Mazarin,  with  which  he  pretended  to  be  very- 
much  enraged,  and  had  all  the  copies  bought  up  to  be 
burnt.  When  he  had  collected  them  all,  he  caused  them 
to  be  sold  in  secret,  and  as  if  it  were  unknown  to  him, 
by  which  contrivance  he  gained  10,000  crowns.  He 
used  to  laugh  and  say,  "The  French  are  delightful 
people  ;  I  let  them  sing  and  laugh,  and  they  let  me  do 
what  I  will." 

In  Flanders  it  is  the  custom  for  the  monks  to  assist 
at  all  fires.  It  appeared  to  me  a  very  whimsical 
spectacle  to  see  monks  of  all  colours,  white,  black,  and 
brown,  running  hither  and  thither  with  their  frocks 
tucked  up  and  carrying  pails. 

The  Chevalier  de  Saint  George  is  one  of  the  best 
men  in  the  world,  and  complaisance  itself.  He  one 
day  said  to  Lord  Douglas,  "  What  should  I  do  to  gain 
the  good-will  of  my  countrymen  ? "  Douglas  replied, 
"  Only  embark  hence  with  twelve  Jesuits,  and  as 
soon  as  you  land  in  England  hang  everyone  of  them 
publicly ;  you  can  do  nothing  so  likely  to  recommend 
you  to  the  EngHsh  people." 

It  19  said  that  at  one  of  the  masked  balls  at  the 
opera,  a  mask  entered  a  box  in  which  were  the  Marshals 


ANECDOTES,    ETC.  297 

de  Villars  and  d'Estrees.  He  said  to  the  former,  "  Why 
do  you  not  go  below  and  dance  ?  "  The  Marshal 
replied,  "If  I  were  younger  I  could,  but  not  crippled 
as  you  see  I  am."  "  Oh,  go  down,"  rejoined 
the  mask,  "  and  the  IMarshal  d'Estrees  too ;  you 
will  cut  so  brilliant  a  figure,  having  both  of  you 
such  large  horns."  At  the  same  time  he  put  up 
his  fingers  in  the  shape  of  horns.  The  Marshal 
d'Estrees  only  laughed,  but  the  other  was  in  a 
great  rage  and  said,  "You  are  a  most  insolent  mask, 
and  I  do  not  know  what  will  restrain  me  from 
giving  you  a  good  beating."  "As  to  a  good  beating," 
replied  the  mask,  "  I  can  do  a  trifle  in  that  way 
myself  when  necessary;  and  as  for  the  insolence  of 
which  you  accuse  me,  it  is  sufficient  for  me  to  say 
that  I  am  masked."  He  went  away  as  he  said  this, 
and  was  not  seen  again. 

The  King  of  Denmark  has  the  look  of  a  simpleton ; 
he  made  love  to  my  daughter  while  he  was  here.  When 
they  were  dancing  he  used  to  squeeze  her  hand,  and  turn 
up  his  eyes  languishingly.  He  would  begin  his  minuet 
in  one  corner  of  the  hall  and  finish  it  in  another.  He 
stopped  once  in  the  middle  of  the  hall  and  did  not  know 
what  to  do  next.  I  was  quite  uneasy  at  seeing  him,  so  I 
got  up  and  taking  his  hand  led  him  away,  or  the  good 
gentleman  might  have  stayed  there  until  this  time.  He 
has  no  notion  of  what  is  becoming  or  otherwise. 

The  Cardinal  de  Noailles  is  unquestionably  a 
virtuous  man  ;  it  would  be  a  very  good  thing  if  all  the 
others  were  like  him.  We  have  here  four  of  them,  and 
each  is  of  a  different  character.  Three  of  them  resemble 
each  other  in  a  certain  particular,  they  are  as  false  as 


2g8  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

counterfeit  coin ;  in  every  other  respect  they  are  directly 
opposite.  The  Cardinal  de  Polignac  is  well  made, 
sensible,  and  insinuating,  and  his  voice  is  very  agreeable; 
but  he  meddles  too  much  with  politics,  and  is  too  much 
occupied  with  seeking  favour.  The  Cardinal  de  Rohan  ^ 
has  a  handsome  face,  as  his  mother  had,  but  his  figure  is 
despicable.  He  is  as  vain  as  a  peacock,  and  fancies  that 
there  is  not  his  equal  in  the  whole  world.  He  is  a 
tricking  intriguer,  the  slave  of  the  Jesuits,  and  fancies 
he  rules  everything,  while  in  fact  he  rules  nothing.  The 
Cardinal  de  Bissi  is  as  ugly  and  clumsy  as  a  peasant, 
proud,  false,  and  wicked,  and  yet  a  most  fulsome  flatterer; 
his  falsehood  may  be  seen  in  his  very  eyes ;  his  talent 
he  turns  to  mischievous  purposes.  In  short,  he  has  all 
the  exterior  of  a  Tartuffe.  These  cardinals  could,  if  they 
chose,  sell  the  Cardinal  de  Noailles  in  a  sack,  for  they  are 
all  much  more  cunning  than  he  is. 

With  respect  to  the  pregnancy  of  the  Queen  of 
England,  the  consort  of  James  H.,  whom  we  saw  at 
Saint  Germain,  it  is  well  known  that  her  daughter-in-law 
maintains  that  she  was  not  with  child ;  but  it  seems  to 
me  that  the  Queen  might  easily  have  taken  measures 
to  prove  the  contrary.  I  spoke  about  it  to  her  Majesty 
myself.  She  replied  "  that  she  had  begged  the  Princess 
Anne  to  satisfy  herself  by  the  evidence  of  her  own  senses, 
and  to  feel  the  motion  of  the  child "  ;  but  the  latter 
refused,    and   the   Queen  added  "  that  she  never  could 

I  "  The  Cardinal,"  say  the  Memoirs  of  the  day,  "  was  called 
by  the  ladies  His  handsome  Emiiience ;  and  the  Regent  used  to  call 
him  the  Cardinal  de  la  Planche,  for  this  reason : — He  wished  to  intro- 
duce the  Cardinal  Dubois  into  the  Council,  and  therefore  made 
'  his  handsome  Eminence '  sit  there  once,  solely  for  the  purpose  of 
preparing  the  post  of  prime  minister  for  Dubois." 


ANECDOTES,    ETC.  29g 

have  supposed  that  the  persons  who  had  been  in  the 
daily  habit  of  seeing  her  during  her  pregnancy  could 
doubt  the  fact  of  her  having  been  delivered.^" 

The  following  song  has  been  made  upon  Lord 
Bolingbroke  on  the  subject  of  his  passion  for  a  young 
girl  who  escaped  from  her  convent : — 

"  Bolingbroke,  est-tu  possede  ? 
Quel  est  ton  desir  chimerique 
De  t'amuser  ä  chevaucher 
La  fille  de  Saint- Dominique  ? 
Crois-tu  que  d'elle  et  d'un  Torris  (Tory) 
II  en  puisse  naitre  I'Anti-Christ  ? 
Penses-tu  done  plaire  au  Regent, 
En  suivant  toujours  cette  guenippe  ? 
II  I'a  ratee  il  y  a  trois  ans, 
Et  a  jure  par  Saint-Philippe, 
Qu'il  meprisera  tout  mortel 
Sacrifiant  ä  tel  autel." 

Some  persons  say  that  the  girl  was  a  professed  nun. 
She  ran  after  the  Duke  Regent  a  long  time,  but  could 
not  accomplish  her  intention. 

Lady  Gordon,  the  grand-aunt  of  Lord  Huntley,  was 
my  dame  d'atonr  for  a  considerable  period.  She  was  a 
singular  person,  and  always  plunged  into  reveries.  Once 
when  she  was  in  bed  and  going  to  seal  a  letter,  she 
dropped  the  wax  upon  her  own  thigh  and  burnt  herself 
dreadfully.  At  another  time,  when  she  was  also  in  bed 
and  engaged  in  play,  she  threw  the  dice  upon  the  ground 
and  spat  in  the  bed.     Once,  too,  she  spat  in  the  mouth  of 

I  On  the  dethronement  of  James  II.,  the  party  of  WilHam, 
Prince  of  Orange,  asserted  that  the  Prince  of  Orange  was  a  sup- 
posititious child,  and  accused  James  of  having  spirited  away  the 
persons  who  could  have  proved  the  birth  of  the  Queen's  child, 
and  of  having  made  the  midwife  leave  the  kingdom  precipitately,  she 
being  the  only  person  who  had  actually  seen  the  child  born. 


300  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

my  first  fenime  de  chamhre  who  happened  to  be  passing  at 
the  moment.  I  think  if  I  had  not  interposed  they  would 
have  come  to  blows,  so  angry  was  the  femme  de  chamhre. 
One  evening  when  I  wanted  my  head-dress  to  go  to 
Court,  she  took  off  her  gloves  and  threw  them  in  my 
face,  putting  on  my  head-dress  at  the  same  time  with 
great  gravity.  When  she  was  speaking  to  a  man  she 
had  a  habit  of  playing  with  ths  buttons  of  his  waistcoat. 
Having  one  day  some  occasion  to  talk  to  the  Chevalier 
Buveon,  a  Captain  in  the  late  Monsieur's  Guard,  and  he 
being  a  very  tall  man,  she  could  only  reach  his  waist- 
band, which  she  began  to  unbutton.  The  poor  gentle- 
man was  quite  horror-stricken,  and  started  back,  crying, 
"  For  Heaven's  sake,  madam,  what  are  you  going  to 
do  ? "  This  accident  caused  a  great  laugh  in  the  Saloon 
of  Saint  Cloud. 

They  say  that  Lord  Peterborough,  speaking  of  the 
two  Kings  of  Spain,  said,  "  What  fools  we  are  to  cut 
each  other's  throats  for  two  such  apes." 

Monteleon  has  good  reason  to  be  fond  of  the 
Princess  des  Ursins,  for  she  made  his  fortune :  he  was 
an  insignificant  officer  in  the  troop,  but  he  had  talents 
and  attached  himself  to  this  lady,  who  made  of  him 
what  he  now  is  (1716).^ 

The   Abbess   of    Maubuisson,    L  ou"se    Hollandine,^ 

1  The  Marquis  de  Monteleon  was  one  of  the  Plenipotentiaries 
of  the  King  of  Spain  at  the  Congress  of  Utrecht.  Coxe,  in  his 
Memoirs  of  the  Kings  of  Spain  of  the  House  of  Bourbon,  gives 
several  particulars  of  the  political  concern  of  the  Marquis  de 
Monteleon. 

2  Louise  Hollandine,  born  in  1622,  embraced  the  Catholic  faith 
in  1659,  was  made  Abbess  of  Maubuisson  in  1664,  and  died  in  1709. 
The  Abbe  Genest  wrote  her  panegyric  under  the  following  title : 
"Memoire  sitr  la  Vie  et  les  Vertns  de  Madame  la  Princesse  Palatine  de 
Baviere,  Abbcsse  de  Maubuisson."     Paris,  1709.     i2mo. 


ANECDOTES,    ETC.  30I 

daughter  of  Frederic  V.,  Elector-Palatine  of  the  days 
of  Henri  IV.,  had  had  so  many  illegitimate  children,  that 
she  commonly  swore  by  her  body,  which  had  borne 
fourteen  children. 

Cardinal  Mazarin  could  not  bear  to  have  unfortunate 
persons  about  him.  When  he  was  requested  to  take  any- 
one into  his  service,  his  first  question  was,  "  Is  he 
lucky?" 

My  son  has  never  assisted  the  Pretender  (Prince 
Edward  Stuart),  neither  pubhcly  nor  privately;  and  if 
my  Lord  Stair  had  chosen  to  contract  a  more  close 
alliance  as  my  son  wished,  he  would  have  prevented  the 
Pretender's  staying  in  France  and  collecting  adherents  ; 
but  as  that  alliance  was  declined,  he  merely  confined 
himself  to  the  stipulations  contained  in  the  treaty  of 
peace.  He  neither  furnished  the  Pretender  with  arms 
nor  money.  The  Pope  and  some  others  gave  him 
money,  but  my  son  could  not,  for  he  was  too  much 
engaged  in  paying  off  the  late  King's  debts,  and  he 
would  not  on  account  of  that  treaty.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  embroil  my  son 
with  the  King  of  England  ;  for,  at  the  same  time  that 
they  were  making  the  King  believe  my  son  was  sustain- 
ing the  Pretender's  cause,  they  told  my  son  that  Lord 
Stair  had  interviews  with  M.  Pentenriedez,  the  Emperor's 
Envoy,  as  well  as  with  the  Sicihan  Ambassador,  the 
object  of  which  was  to  make  a  league  with  those  powers 
to  drive  out  the  King  of  Spain  and  to  set  up  the  King  of 
France  in  his  place,  at  the  same  time  that  Sicily  should 
be  given  up  to  the  Emperor — in  short,  to  excite  all 
Europe  against  France.  My  son  said  himself,  that  since 
he  was  to  confine  himself  to  the  articles  of  the  treaty  of 


302  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

peace,  he  did  not  think  he  had  any  right  to  prevent  the 
Pretender's  passage  through  his  kingdom;  and  as  the 
army  had  been  reduced,  he  could  not  hinder  the  dis- 
banded soldiers  from  taking  service  wherever  they  chose. 
My  son  had  no  intention  w^hatever  to  break  with  England, 
although  he  has  been  told  that  there  was  a  majority  of 
two  voices  only  in  that  nation  against  declaring  it  at  war 
with  France.  He  thinks  Lord  Stair  is  not  his  friend, 
and  that  he  has  not  faithfully  reported  to  his  monarch 
the  state  of  things  here,  but  would  rather  be  pleased  to 
kindle  the  flames  of  a  war.  If  that  minister  had  honestly 
explained  to  the  King  my  son's  intentions,  the  King 
would  not  have  refused  to  agree  with  them.        *        * 


*  *  *  * 


It  is  said  here  that  the  present  Queen  of  Spain 
(171 6),  although  she  is  more  beloved  by  her  husband 
than  was  the  last,  has  less  influence  over  him.  The 
Abbe  Alberoni  has  them  both  in  his  power,  and  governs 
them  like  two  children. 

The  English  gentlemen  and  ladies  who  are  here  tell 
horrible  stories  of  Queen  Anne.  They  say  she  gets  quite 
drunk,  and  that  besides  ***** 

but  that  she  is  inconstant  in  her  affections,  and  changes 
often.  Lady  Sandwich  has  not  told  this  to  me,  but  she 
has  to  my  son.  I  have  seen  her  but  seldom,  on  account 
of  the  repugnance  I  felt  at  learning  she  had  confessed  she 
had  been  present  at  such  orgies. 

I  do  not  know  whether  it  is  true  that  Louvois  was 
poisoned  by  that  old  Maintenon,  but  it  is  quite  certain 
that  he  was  poisoned,  as  well  as  his  physician  who  com- 
mitted the  crime,  and  who  said  when  he  was  dying,  "  I 
die  by  poison,  but  I  deserve  it,  for  having  poisoned  my 


ANECDOTES,    ETC.  3O3 

master  M.  de  Louvois ;  and  I  did  this  in  the  hope  of 
becoming  the  King's  physician,  as  Madame  de  Maintenon 
had  promised  me."  I  ought  to  add  that  some  persons 
pretend  to  think  this  story  of  Doctor  Seron  is  a  mere 
invention.  Old  Piety  (Maintenon)  did  not  commit  this 
crime  without  an  object ;  but  if  she  really  did  poison 
Louvois,  it  was  because  he  had  opposed  her  designs  and 
endeavoured  to  undeceive  the  King.  Louvois,  the  better 
to  gain  his  object,  had  advised  the  King  not  to  take  her 
with  him  to  the  army.  The  King  was  weak  enough  to 
repeat  this  to  her,  and  this  it  was  that  excited  her  against 
Louvois.  That  the  latter  was  a  very  bad  man,  who 
feared  neither  heaven  nor  hell,  no  man  can  deny;  but  it 
must  be  confessed  that  he  served  his  King  faithfully. 

The  Duke  de  Noailles'  grandfather  was  one  of  the 
ugliest  men  in  the  world.  He  had  one  glass  eye,  his 
nose  was  like  an  owl's,  his  mouth  large,  his  teeth  ugly 
and  decayed,  his  face  and  head  very  small,  his  body  long 
and  bent,  and  he  was  bitter  and  ill-tempered.  His  name 
was  Gluinel.  Madame  de  Cornuel  one  day  was  reading 
his  grandson's  genealogy,  and  when  she  came  to  his 
name,  exclaimed,  "  I  always  suspected,  when  I  saw  the 
Duke  de  Noailles,  that  he  came  out  of  the  Book  of  the 
Lamentations  of  Jeremiah  !  " 

When  James  H.  took  refuge  in  France  from 
England,  Madame  de  Cornuel  went  to  Saint  Germain 
to  see  him.  Some  time  afterwards,  she  was  told  of  the 
pains  our  King  was  taking  to  procure  his  restoration 
to  the  throne.  Madame  de  Cornuel  shook  her  head, 
and  said,  "  I  have  seen  this  King  James;  our  monarch's 
efforts  are  all  in  vain  ;  he  is  good  for  nothing  but  to 
make  poor  man's  sauce.     (La  sauce  an  paiivre  homme.J  " 


304  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

She  went  to  Versailles  to  see  the  Court  when 
M.  de  Torcy  and  M.  de  Seignelay,  both  very  young, 
had  just  been  appointed  ministers.  She  saw  them,  as 
well  as  Madame  de  Maintenon,  who  had  then  grown  old. 
When  she  returned  to  Paris,  someone  asked  her  what 
remarkable  things  she  had  seen.  "  I  have  seen,"  she 
said,  "what  I  never  expected  to  see  there  ;  I  have  seen 
love  in  its  tomb  and  the  ministry  in  its  cradle." 

The  elder  IMargrave  of  Anspach  was  smitten  with 
Mademoiselle  d'Armagnac,  but  he  would  not  marry  her, 
and  said  afterwards  that  he  had  never  intended  to  do  so, 
because  the  familiarities  which  had  passed  between 
her  and  the  Marquis  de  Villequier  (1716)  had  disgusted 
him.  The  lady's  mother  would  have  liked  nothing 
better  than  to  surprise  the  Margrave  with  her  daughter 
in  some  critical  situation :  for  this  purpose  he  had 
sufficient  opportunities  given  him,  but  he  was  prudent, 
and  conducted  himself  with  so  much  modesty  that  he 
avoided  the  snare.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  had  given  him  a 
hint  on  the  subject,  for  I  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  mother,  who  is  a  very  bad  woman. 

The  Cardinal  de  Richelieu,  notwithstanding  his  wit, 
had  often  fits  of  distraction.  Sometimes  he  would  fancy 
himself  a  horse,  and  run  jumping  about  a  billiard  table, 
neighing  and  snorting;  this  would  last  an  hour,  at  the 
end  of  which  his  people  would  put  him  to  bed  and  cover 
him  up  closely  to  induce  perspiration  :  when  he  awoke 
the  fit  had  passed  and  did  not  appear  again. 

The  Archbishop  of  Paris  reprimanded  the  Bishop  of 
Gap  on  the  bad  reputation  which  he  had  acquired  in 
consequence  of  his  intercourse  with  women.  "  Ah, 
Monseigneur,"  replied  the  Bishop  of  Gap,  "if  you  knew 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  305 

what  you  talk  of,  you  would  not  be  astonished.  I  lived 
the  first  forty  years  of  my  life  without  experiencing  it ; 
I  don't  know  what  induced  me  to  venture  on  it,  but 
having  done  so  it  is  impossible  to  refrain.  Only  try  it 
for  once,  Monseigneur,  and  you  will  perceive  the  truth 
of  what  I  tell  you.^ "  This  bishop  is  now  living  in  the 
village  of  Boulogne,  near  Paris  :  he  is  a  little  priest,  very 
ugly,  with  a  large  head  and  fiery  red  face. 

Our  late  King  said,  "  I  am,  I  confess,  somewhat 
piqued  to  see  that,  with  all  the  authority  belonging  to 
my  station  in  this  country,  I  have  exclaimed  so  long 
against  high  head-dresses,  while  no  one  had  the  com- 
plaisance to  lower  them  for  me  in  the  slightest  degree. 
But  now,  when  a  mere  strange  English  wench  arrives 
with  a  little  low  head-dress,  all  the  Princesses  think  fit 
to  go  at  once  from  one  extremity  to  another." 

A  Frenchman  who  had  taken  refuge  in  Holland 
informed  me  by  letter  of  what  was  passing  with  respect 
to  the  Prince  of  Orange.  Thinking  that  I  should  do 
the  King  a  service  by  communicating  to  him  these  news, 
I  hastened  to  him,  and  he  thanked  me  for  them.  In  the 
evening,  however,  he  said  to  me,  smiling,  "  My  ministers 
will  have  it  that  you  have  been  misinformed,  and  that 
your  correspondent  has  not  written  you  one  word  of 
truth."  I  replied,  "  Time  will  show  which  is  the  better 
informed,   your   Majesty's    ministers   or    my   correspon- 

I  This  bishop,  whose  name  was  Herve,  had  Hved  in  prudence 
and  regularity  up  to  the  age  of  fifty,  when  he  began,  on  a  sudden, 
to  lead  a  very  debauched  life.  They  compelled  him  to  give  up  his 
bishopric,  which  he  did  on  condition  of  being  allowed  to  stay  at 
Paris  as  much  as  he  chose.  He  continued  to  live  in  perpetual 
pleasure,  but  towards  the  close  of  his  career  he  repented  of  his 
sins  and  engaged  with  the  Capuchin  missionaries. 

20 


306  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

dent.  For  my  own  part,  Sire,  my  intention  at  least 
was  good." 

Some  time  afterwards,  when  the  report  of  the 
approaching  accession  of  William  to  the  throne  of 
England  became  public,  M.  de  Torcy  came  to  me  to 
beg  I  would  acquaint  him  with  my  news.  I  replied,  "  I 
receive  none  now ;  you  told  the  King  that  what  I 
formerly  had  was  false,  and  upon  this  I  desired  my 
correspondents  to  send  me  no  more,  for  I  do  not  love 
to  spread  false  reports."  He  laughed,  as  he  always 
did,  and  said,  "Your  news  have  turned  out  to  be  quite 
correct."  I  replied,  "  A  great  and  able  minister  ought 
surely  to  have  news  more  correct  than  I  can  obtain ; 
and  I  have  been  angry  with  myself  for  having  formerly 
acquainted  the  King  with  the  reports  which  had  reached 
me.  I  ought  to  have  recollected  that  his  clever  ministers 
are  acquainted  with  everything."  The  King  therefore 
said  to  me,  "You  are  making  game  of  my  ministers." 
"  Sire,"  I  replied,  "  I  am  only  giving  them  back  their 
own." 

M.  de  Louvois  was  the  only  person  who  was  well 
served  by  his  spies  :  indeed,  he  never  spared  his  money. 
All  the  Frenchmen  who  went  into  Germany  or  Holland 
as  dancing  or  fencing-masters,  esquires,  &c.,  were  paid 
by  him  to  give  him  information  of  whatever  passed  in 
the  several  Courts.  After  his  death  this  system  was 
discontinued,  and  thus  it  is  that  the  present  ministers 
are  so  ignorant  of  the  affairs  of  other  nations. 

Lauzun  says  the  drollest  things,  and  takes  the  most 
amusing  roundabout  way  of  intimating  whatever  he  does 
not  care  to  say  openly.  For  example,  when  he  wished 
the   King   to   understand    that    the   Count   de   Marsan, 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  307 

brother  of  M.  Legrand,  had  attached  himself  to  M. 
Chamillard,  the  then  minister,  he  took  the  following 
means :  "  Sire,"  said  he,  with  an  air  of  the  utmost 
simplicity,  as  if  he  had  not  the  least  notion  of  malice, 
"  I  wished  to  change  my  wigmaker,  and  employ  the 
one  who  is  now  the  most  in  fashion ;  but  I  could  not 
find  him,  for  M.  de  Marson  has  kept  him  shut  up 
in  his  room  for  several  days  past,  making  wigs  for  his 
household,  and  for  M.  de  Chamillard's  friends." 

The  adventures  of  Prince  Emanuel  of  Portugal  are  a 
perfect  romance.  His  brother  the  King  was  desirous,  it  is 
said,  at  first,  to  have  made  a  priest  and  a  bishop  of  him  : 
to  this,  however,  he  had  an  insuperable  objection,  for  he 
was  in  love.  The  King  sent  for  him,  and  asked  him  if 
it  was  true  that  he  had  really  resolved  not  to  enter  the 
Church.  On  the  Prince's  replying  in  the  affirmative,  the 
King,  his  brother,  struck  him.  The  Prince  said,  "You 
are  my  king  and  my  brother,  and  therefore  I  cannot 
revenge  myself  as  I  ought  upon  you ;  but  you  have  put 
an  insult  upon  me  which  I  cannot  endure,  and  you  shall 
never  again  see  me  in  the  whole  course  of  your  life." 
He  is  said  to  have  set  out  on  that  very  night.  His 
brother  wrote  to  him,  commanding  his  return  from  Paris 
to  Holland ;  as  he  made  no  reply  to  this  command,  his 
governor  and  the  ambassador  had  no  doubt  that  it  was 
his  intention  to  obey  it.  In  the  course  of  last  week  he 
expressed  a  desire  to  see  Versailles  and  Marly.  The 
Ambassador  made  preparations  for  this  excursion,  and 
together  with  his  wife  accompanied  the  Prince,  whose 
governor  and  one  of  his  gentlemen  were  of  the  party. 
Upon  their  return  from  Versailles,  when  they  reached 
the  courtyard,  the  Prince  called  out  to  stop,  and  asked 

20 — 2 


308  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

if  there  were  any  chaises  ready?  "Yes,  Monseigneur," 
rephed  a  voice,  "  there  are  four."  *'  That  will  be 
sufficient,"  replied  the  Prince.  Then  addressing  the 
Ambassador,  he  expressed  his  warmest  thanks  for  the 
friendly  attention  he  had  shown  him,  and  assured  him 
that  he  desired  nothing  so  much  as  an  opportunity  to 
testify  his  gratitude.  "  I  am  now  going  to  set  out," 
he  added,  "  for  Vienna ;  the  Emperor  is  my  cousin  ;  I 
have  no  doubt  he  will  receive  me,  and  I  shall  learn  in 
his  army  to  become  a  soldier  in  the  campaign  against  the 
Turks."  He  then  thanked  the  Governor  for  the  pains  he 
had  bestowed  upon  his  education  ;  and  promised,  that  if 
any  good  fortune  should  befall  him,  his  Governor  should 
share  it  with  him.  He  also  said  something  com- 
plimentary to  his  gentleman.  He  then  a'ighted,  called 
for  the  post-chaises,  and  took  his  seat  in  one  of  them ; 
his  favourite,  a  young  man  of  little  experience,  but,  as  it 
is  said,  of  considerable  talent,  placed  himself  in  another, 
and  his  two  valets  de  chamhre  into  the  third  and  fourth. 
That  nothing  may  be  wanting  to  the  romantic  turn  of  his 
adventures,  it  is  said  besides  that  Madame  de  Ribeira 
was  the  object  of  his  affection  in  Portugal  before  she  was 
married ;  that  he  even  wished  to  make  her  his  wife,  but 
that  his  brother  would  not  permit  it.  A  short  time 
before  his  departure,  the  husband,  who  is  a  very  jealous 
man,  found  him  at  his  wife's  feet ;  and  this  hastened  the 
Prince's  departure. 

Henri  IV,  had  been  one  day  told  of  the  infidelity  of 
one  of  his  mistresses.  Believing  that  the  King  had  no 
intention  of  visiting  her,  she  made  an  assignation  with 
the  Duke  de  Bellegarde  in  her  own  apartment.  The 
King,  having  caused  the  time  of  his  rival's  coming  to 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  309 

be  watched,  when  he  was  informed  of  his  being  there, 
went  to  his  mistress's  room.  He  found  her  in  bed,  and 
she  complained  of  a  violent  headache.  The  King  said 
he  was  very  hungry,  and  wanted  some  supper  ;  she 
replied, — that  she  had  not  thought  about  supper,  and 
believed  she  had  only  a  couple  of  partridges.  Henri  IV. 
desired  they  should  be  served  up,  and  said  he  would  eat 
them  with  her.  The  supper  which  she  had  prepared  for 
Bellegarde,  and  which  consisted  of  much  more  than  two 
partridges,  was  then  served  up  ;  the  King,  taking  up  a 
small  loaf,  spht  it  open,  and  sticking  a  whole  partridge 
into  it,  threw  it  under  the  bed.  "  Sire,"  cried  the  lady, 
terrified  to  death,  "  what  are  you  doing  ?  "  "  Madame," 
replied  the  merry  monarch,  "everybody  must  live."  He 
then  took  his  departure,  content  with  having  frightened 
the  lovers. 

I  have  again  seen  M.  La  Mothe  le  Vayer  * ;  who, 
with  all  his  sense,  dresses  himself  like  a  madman.  He 
wears  furred  boots,  and  a  cap  which  he  never  takes  off, 
lined  with  the  same  material,  a  large  band,  and  a  black 
velvet  coat. 

We  have  had  few  Queens  in  France  who  have  been 
really  happy.  Mary  de  Medici  died  in  exile.  The 
mother  of  the  King  and  of  the  late  Monsieur  was 
unhappy  as  long  as  her  husband  was  alive.  Our  Queen, 
Marie  Theresa,  said  upon  her  death-bed,  "  that  from  the 
time  of  her  becoming  Queen  she  had  not  had  a  day  of 
real  happiness." 

Lauzun  sometimes  affects  the  simpleton  that  he 
may  say  disagreeable  things  with   impunity,  for   he   is 

1  Fran9ois  de  La  Mothe  de  Vayer  ;  died  in  1672. 


3IO  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

very  malicious.  In  order  to  hint  to  Marshal  de  Tesse 
that  he  did  wrong  in  being  so  familiar  with  the  common 
people,  he  called  out  to  him  one  night  in  the  saloon  at 
iNIarly,  "  Marshal,  pray  give  me  a  pinch  of  snuff:  but  let 
it  be  good — that,  for  example,  which  I  saw  you  taking 
this  morning  with  Daigremont  the  chairman." 

In  the  time  of  Henri  IV.  an  Elector-Palatine  came 
to  France  ;  the  King's  household  was  sent  to  meet  him. 
All  his  expenses  were  paid,  as  well  as  those  of  his  suite ; 
and  when  he  arrived  at  the  Court  he  entered  between 
the  Dauphin  and  Monsieur  and  dined  with  the  King. 
I  learnt  these  particulars  from  the  late  Monsieur.  The 
King,  under  the  pretence  of  going  to  the  chase,  went 
about  a  league  from  Paris,  and  meeting  the  Elector  con- 
ducted him  in  his  carriage.  At  Paris  he  was  always 
attended  by  the  King's  servants.  This  treatment  is  some- 
what different  from  that  which  in  my  time  was  bestowed 
upon  Maximihan  Maria,  the  Elector  of  Bavaria.  This 
Elector  often  enraged  me  with  the  foohsh  things  that  he 
did.  For  example,  he  went  to  play  and  to  dine  with 
M.  d' Antin,  and  never  evinced  the  least  desire  to  dine  with 
his  own  nephews.  A  sovereign,  whether  he  be  Elector  or 
not,  might  with  propriety  dine  either  at  the  Dauphin's  table 
or  mine  ;  and,  if  the  Elector  had  chosen,  he  might  have 
come  to  us ;  but  he  was  contented  to  dine  with  M.  d' Antin 
or  M.  de  Torcy,  and  some  ladies  of  the  King's  suite. 
I  am  angry  to  this  day  when  I  think  of  it.^  The  King 
used  often  to  laugh  at  my  anger  on  this  subject ;   and 

I  According  to  the  notes  in  Daiigeau's  Journal,  Madame  was 
also  greatly  enraged  with  the  Elector  of  Cologne,  who,  after  having 
an  audience  of  the  King,  went  to  say  mass  at  the  Duchess  of 
Burgundy's,  and  performed  the  functions  of  a  simple  chaplain. 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  3II 

whenever  the  Elector  committed  some  new  absurdity, 
he  used  to  call  to  me  in  the  cabinet  and  ask  me,  "  Well, 
Madame,  what  have  you  to  say  to  that  ?  "  I  would 
reply,  "  All  that  the  Elector  does  is  alike  ridiculous." 
This  made  the  King  laugh  heartily.  The  Elector  had 
a  Marshal,  the  Count  d'Arco,  the  brother  of  that  person 
who  had  married  in  so  singular  a  manner  the  Prince's 
mistress,  Popel,  which  marriage  had  been  contracted 
solely  upon  his  promise  never  to  be  alone  with  his  wife. 
The  Marshal,  who  was  as  honest  as  his  brother  was 
accommodating,  was  terribly  annoyed  at  his  master's 
conduct ;  he  came  at  first  to  me  to  impart  to  me  his 
chagrin  whenever  the  Elector  committed  some  folly ; 
and  when  he  behaved  better  he  used  also  to  tell  me  of 
it.  I  rather  think  he  must  have  been  forbidden  to  visit 
me,  for  latterly  I  never  saw  him.  None  of  the  Elector's 
suite  has  visited  me,  and  I  presume  they  have  been  pre- 
vented. This  Prince's  amorous  intrigues  have  been  by 
no  means  agreeable  to  the  King.  The  Elector  was 
so  fond  of  grisettes,  that  when  the  King  was  giving 
names  to  each  of  the  roads  through  the  wood,  he  was 
exceedingly  anxious  that  one  of  them  should  be  called 
U Allee  des  Grisettes;  but  the  King  would  not  consent 
to  it.  The  Elector  has  perpetuated  his  race  in  the  vil- 
lages ;  and  two  country  girls  have  been  pointed  out  to 
me  who  were  pregnant  by  him  at  his  departure. 

His  marriage  with  a  Polish  Princess  is  a  striking 
proof  that  a  man  cannot  avoid  his  fate.  This  was  not 
a  suitable  match  for  him,  and  was  managed  almost 
without  his  knowledge,  as  I  have  been  told.  His 
councillors,  having  been  bought  over,  patched  up  the 
affair ;    and    when    the    Elector    only   caused    it    to    be 


312  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

submitted  for  their  deliberation,  it  was  already  de- 
cided on. 

This  Elector's  brother  must  have  been  made  a 
Bishop  of  Cologne  and  Munster  without  the  production 
of  proof  of  his  nobility  being  demanded ;  for  it  is  well 
known  that  the  King  Sobieski  was  a  Polish  nobleman, 
who  married  the  daughter  of  Darquin,  Captain  of  our 
late  Monsieur's  Swiss  Guards.  Great  suspicions  are 
entertained  respecting  the  children  of  the  Bavaria  family, 
that  is,  the  Elector  and  his  brothers,  who  are  thought 
to  have  been  the  progeny  of  an  Italian  doctor  named 
Simoni,  It  was  said  at  Court  that  the  doctor  had  only 
given  the  Elector  and  his  wife  a  strong  cordial,  the  effect 
of  which  had  been  to  increase  their  family  ;  but  they  are 
all  most  suspiciously  like  the  doctor. 

I  have  heard  it  said  that  in  England  the  people 
used  to  take  my  late  uncle  Rupert  for  a  sorcerer,  and 
his  large  black  dog  for  the  Devil ;  for  this  reason,  when 
he  joined  the  army  and  attacked  the  enemy,  whole 
regiments  fled  before  him. 

A  knight  of  the  Palatinate,  who  had  served  many 
years  in  India,  told  me  at  Court  in  that  country  the  first 
minister  and  the  keeper  of  the  seals  hated  each  other 
mortally.  The  latter  having  one  day  occasion  for  the 
seals,  found  they  had  been  taken  from  the  casket  in 
which  they  were  usually  kept.  He  was  of  course  greatly 
terrified,  for  his  head  depended  upon  their  production. 
He  went  to  one  of  his  friends,  and  consulted  with  him 
what  he  should  do.  His  friend  asked  him  if  he  had 
any  enemies  at  Court.  "Yes,"  replied  the  keeper 
of  the  seals,  "  the  chief  minister  is  my  mortal  foe." 
"  So   much    the    better,"   replied   his   friend,    '*  go   and 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  313 

set  fire  to  your  house  directly ;  take  out  of  it  nothing  but 
the  casket  in  which  the  seals  were  kept,  and  take  it 
directly  to  the  chief  minister,  telling  him  you  know  no 
one  with  whom  you  can  more  safely  deposit  it ;  then  go 
home  again  and  save  whatever  you  can.  When  the  fire 
shall  be  extinguished,  you  must  go  to  the  King,  and 
request  him  to  order  the  chief  minister  to  restore  you  the 
seals ;  and  you  must  be  sure  to  open  the  casket  before 
the  Prince.  If  the  seals  are  there,  all  will  be  explained  ; 
if  the  minister  has  not  restored  them,  you  must  accuse 
him  at  once  of  having  stolen  them  ;  and  thus  you  will  be 
sure  to  ruin  your  enemy  and  recover  your  seals."  The 
keeper  of  the  seals  followed  his  friend's  advice  exactly, 
and  the  seals  were  found  again  in  the  casket. 

As  soon  as  a  royal  child,  which  they  call  here  tm 
enfant  de  France,  is  born,  and  has  been  swaddled,  they 
put  on  him  a  grand  cordon ;  but  they  do  not  create  him  a 
knight  of  the  order  until  he  has  communicated ;  the 
ceremony  is  then  performed  in  the  ordinary  manner. 

The  ladies  of  chancellors  here  have  the  privilege  of 
the  tabouret  when  they  come  to  the  toilette  ;  but  in  the 
afternoon  they  are  obliged  to  stand.  This  practice  began 
in  the  days  of  Mary  de  Medici,  when  a  chancellor's  wife 
happened  to  be  in  great  favour.  As  she  had  a  lame  foot 
and  could  not  stand  up,  the  Queen,  who  would  have  her 
come  to  visit  her  every  morning,  allowed  her  to  sit  down. 
From  this  time  the  custom  of  these  ladies  sitting  in  the 
morning  has  been  continued. 

In  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.  the  King's  illegitimate 
children  took  precedence  of  the  Princes  of  the  House  of 
Lorraine.  On  the  day  after  the  King's  death,  the  Duke 
of  Verneuil  was  about  to  go  before  the  Duke  de  Guise, 


314  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

when  the  latter,  taking  him  by  the  arm,  said,  "That 
might  have  been  yesterday,  but  to-day  matters  are 
altered." 

Two  young  Duchesses,  not  being  able  to  see  their 
lovers,  invented  the  following  stratagem  to  accomplish 
their  wishes.  These  two  sisters  had  been  educated  in  a 
convent  some  leagues  distant  from  Paris.  A  nun  of 
their  acquaintance  happening  to  die  there,  they  pretended 
to  be  much  afflicted  at  it,  and  requested  permission  to 
perform  the  last  duties  to  her,  and  to  be  present  at  her 
funeral.  They  were  believed  to  be  sincere,  and  the  per- 
mission they  asked  was  readily  granted  them.  In  the 
funeral  procession  it  was  perceived  that,  besides  the  two 
ladies,  there  were  two  other  persons  whom  no  one  knew. 
Upon  being  asked  who  they  were,  they  replied  they  were 
poor  priests  in  need  of  protection ;  and  that,  having 
learnt  two  Duchesses  were  to  be  present  at  the  funeral, 
they  had  come  to  the  convent  for  the  purpose  of  imploring 
their  good  offices.  When  they  were  presented  to  them, 
the  young  ladies  said  they  would  interrogate  them  after 
the  service  in  their  chambers.  The  young  priests  waited 
upon  them  at  the  time  appointed,  and  stayed  there  until 
the  evening.  The  Abbess,  who  began  to  think  their 
audience  was  too  long,  sent  to  beg  the  priests  would 
retire.  One  of  them  seemed  very  melancholy,  but  the 
other  laughed  as  if  he  would  burst  his  sides.  This  was 
the  Duke  de  Richelieu;  the  other  was  the  Chevalier  de 
Guemene,  the  younger  son  of  the  Duke  of  that  name. 
The  gentlemen  themselves  divulged  the  adventure. 

The  King's  illegitimate  children,  fearing  that  they 
should  be  treated  in  the  same  way  as  the  Princes  of  the 
blood,    have   for   some    months    past   been   engaged   in 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  315 

drawing  a  strong  party  of  the  nobility  to  their  side,  and 
have  presented  a  very  unjust  petition  against  the  dukes 
and  peers.  My  son  has  refused  to  receive  this  petition, 
and  has  interdicted  them  from  holding  assemblies,  the 
object  of  which  he  knows  would  tend  to  revolt.  They 
have,  nevertheless,  continued  them  at  the  instigations  of 
the  Duke  du  Maine  and  his  wife,  and  have  even  carried 
their  insolence  so  far  as  to  address  a  memorial  to  my 
son  and  another  to  the  Parliament,  in  which  they  assert 
that  it  is  within  the  province  of  the  nobility  alone  to 
decide  between  the  Princes  of  the  blood  and  the  legiti- 
mated Princes.  Thirty  of  them  have  signed  this 
memorial,  of  whom  my  son  has  had  six  arrested ;  three 
of  them  have  been  sent  to  the  Bastille,  and  the  other 
three  to  Vincennes  ;  they  are  MM.  de  Chatillon,  de 
Rieux,  de  Beaufremont,  de  Polignac,  de  Clermont,  and 
d'O.  The  last  was  the  Governor  of  the  Count  of 
Toulouse,  and  remains  with  him.  Clermont's  wife  is  one 
of  the  Duchess  de  Berri's  ladies.  She  is  not  the  most 
discreet  person  in  the  world  ;  and  has  been  long  in  the 
habit  of  saying  to  anyone  who  would  listen  to  her, 
"  Whatever  may  come  of  it,  my  husband  and  I  are 
willing  to  risk  our  lives  for  the  Count  de  Toulouse." 
It  is  therefore  evident  that  all  this  proceeds  from 
the  bastards.  But  I  must  expose  still  further  the  in- 
gratitude of  these  people.  Chatillon  is  a  poor  gentleman, 
whose  father  held  a  small  employment  under  M.  Gaston, 
one  of  those  offices  which  confer  the  privilege  of  the 
entree  to  the  ante-chambers,  and  the  holders  of  which  do 
not  sit  in  the  carriage  with  their  masters.  The  two 
descendants,  as  they  call  themselves,  of  the  house 
of  Chatillon,   insist    that   this    Chatillon,    who   married 


3l6  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

an  attorney's  daughter,  is  descended  from  the  illegitimate 
branches  of  that  family.  His  son  was  a  subaltern  in  the 
Body  Guard.  In  the  summer  time,  when  the  young 
officers  went  to  bathe,  they  used  to  take  young  Chatillon 
with  them  to  guard  their  clothes,  and  for  this  office  they 
gave  him  a  crown  for  his  supper.  Monsieur  having 
taken  this  poor  person  into  his  service,  gave  him  a 
cordon  bleu,  and  furnished  him  with  money  to  commence 
a  suit  which  he  subsequently  gained  against  the  House 
of  Chatillon,  and  they  were  compelled  to  recognize  him. 
He  then  made  him  a  captain  in  the  Guards ;  gave  him 
a  considerable  pension,  which  my  son  continued,  and 
permitted  him  also  to  have  apartments  in  the  Palais 
Royal.  In  these  very  apartments  did  this  ungrateful 
man  hold  those  secret  meetings,  the  end  of  which  was 
proposed  to  be  my  son's  ruin.  Rieux's  grandfather  had 
neglected  to  uphold  the  honour  to  which  he  was  entitled, 
of  being  called  the  King's  cousin.  My  son  restored  him 
to  this  honour,  gave  his  brother  a  place  in  the  gendarmerie, 
and  rendered  him  many  other  services.  Chatillon  tried 
particularly  to  excite  the  nobility  against  my  son;  and 
this  is  the  recompense  for  all  his  kindness.  My  son's 
wife  is  gay  and  content,  in  the  hope  that  all  will  go  well 
with  her  brothers. 

That  old  Maintenon  has  continued  pretty  tranquil 
until  the  termination  of  the  process  relating  to  the  legiti- 
mation of  the  bastards.  No  one  has  heard  her  utter  a 
single  expression  on  the  subject.  This  makes  me  believe 
that  she  has  some  project  in  her  head,  but  I  cannot  tell 
what  it  is. 

A  monk  who  was  journeying  a  few  days  ago  to 
Luzarche,  met  upon  the  road  a  stranger,  who  fell  into 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  317 

conversation  with  him.  He  was  an  agreeable  companion, 
and  related  various  adventures  very  pleasantly.  Having 
learnt  from  the  monk  that  he  was  charged  with  the  rents 
of  the  convent,  to  which  some  estates  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Luzarche  belonged,  the  stranger  told  him  that 
he  belonged  to  that  place,  whither  he  was  returning  after 
a  long  journey  ;  and  then  observing  to  the  monk  that  the 
road  they  were  pursuing  was  roundabout,  he  pointed  out 
to  him  a  nearer  one  through  the  forest.  When  they 
had  reached  the  thickest  part  of  the  wood,  the  stranger 
alighted,  and  seizing  the  bridle  of  the  monk's  horse 
demanded  his  money.  The  monk  replied,  that  he  thought 
he  was  travelling  with  an  honest  man,  and  that  he  was 
astonished  at  so  singular  a  demand.  The  stranger  repHed 
that  he  had  no  time  for  trifling,  and  that  the  monk  must 
either  give  up  his  money  or  his  life.  The  monk  replied, 
"  I  never  carry  money  about  me  ;  but  if  you  will  let  me 
ahght  and  go  to  my  servant,  who  carries  my  money,  I 
will  bring  you  i,ooo  francs." 

The  robber  suffered  the  monk  to  alight,  who  went 
to  his  servant,  and  taking  from  him  the  i,ooo  francs 
which  were  in  a  purse,  he  at  the  same  time  furnished 
himself  with  a  loaded  pistol  which  he  concealed  in  his 
sleeve.  When  he  returned  to  the  thief,  he  threw  down 
the  purse,  and  as  the  robber  stooped  to  pick  it  up,  the 
monk  fired  and  shot  him  dead  ;  then,  remounting  his 
horse,  he  hastened  to  apply  to  the  police,  and  related  his 
adventure.  A  patrole  was  sent  back  with  him  to  the 
wood,  and  upon  searching  the  robber,  there  were  found 
in  his  pockets  six  whistles  of  different  sizes  ;  they  blew 
the  largest  of  the  number,  upon  which  ten  other  armed 
robbers  soon  afterwards  appeared  ;  they  defended  them- 


3l8  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

selves,   but  eventually  two  of  them  were  killed  and  the 
others  taken. 

The  Chevalier  Schaub,^  who  was  employed  in  State 
affairs  by  Stanhope,  the  English  minister,  brought  with 
him  a  secretary,  to  whom  the  Prince  of  Wales  had 
entrusted  sixty  guineas,  to  be  paid  to  a  M.  d'Isten,  who 
had  made  a  purchase  of  some  lace  to  that  amount  for 
the  Princess  of  Wales ;  the  brother  of  M.  d'Isten,  then 
living  in  London,  had  also  given  the  same  secretary 
200  guineas,  to  be  delivered  to  his  brother  at  Paris. 
When  the  secretary  arrived  he  enquired  at  the  Am- 
bassador's where  M.  d'Isten  lived,  and  having  procured 
his  address  he  went  to  the  house,  and  asked  for  the 
German  gentleman.  A  person  appeared,  who  said,  "  I 
am  he."  The  secretary  suspecting  nothing,  gave  him 
the  Prince  of  Wales'  letter  and  the  sixty  guineas.  The 
fictitious  d'Isten,  perceiving  that  the  secretary  had  a 
gold  w^atch,  and  a  purse  containing  fifty  other  guineas, 
detained  him  to  supper ;  but  no  sooner  had  the  secretary 
drank  some  wine  than  he  was  seized  with  an  invincible 
desire  to  go  to  sleep.  "  My  good  friend,"  said  his  host, 
"your  journey  has  fatigued  you;  you  had  better  un- 
dress and  lie  down  on  my  bed  for  a  short  time." 
The  secretary,  who  could  not  keep  his  eyes  open, 
consented  ;  and  no  sooner  had  he  laid  down  than  he  was 
asleep.  Some  time  after,  his  servant  came  to  look  for 
him,  and  awoke  him  ;  the  bottles  were  still  standing 
before  the  bed,  but  the  poor  secretary's  pockets  were 
emptied,  and  the  sharper  who  had  personated  M.  d'Isten 
had  disappeared  with  their  valuable  contents. 


I  Sir  Luke  Schaub.  Townshend  and  Walpole  recalled  him  upon 
the  pretext  that  he  was  disliked  by  Noce,  the  Duke  of  Orleans' 
favourite. 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  319 

The  Princess  Maubuisson  was  astonishingly  pleasant 
and  amiable.  I  was  always  delighted  to  visit  her,  and 
never  felt  myself  tired  in  her  society.  I  soon  found 
myself  in  much  greater  favour  than  any  other  of  her 
nieces,  because  I  could  converse  with  her  about  almost 
everybody  she  had  known  in  the  whole  course  of  her  life, 
which  the  others  could  not.  She  used  frequently  to  talk 
German  with  me,  which  she  knew  very  well ;  and  she 
told  me  all  her  adventures.  I  asked  her  how  she  could 
accustom  herself  to  the  monastic  life.  She  laughed,  and 
said,  "  I  never  speak  to  the  nuns  but  to  give  orders." 
She  had  a  deaf  nun  with  her  in  her  own  chamber,  that 
she  might  not  feel  any  desire  to  speak.  She  told  me 
that  she  had  always  been  fond  of  a  country  life,  and 
that  she  still  could  fancy  herself  a  country  girl.  "  But," 
I  asked  her,  "how  do  you  like  getting  up  and  going  to 
church  in  the  middle  of  the  night?"  She  replied  that 
she  did  as  the  painters  do,  who  increase  the  splendour  of 
their  light  by  the  introduction  of  deep  shadows.  She  had 
in  general  the  faculty  of  giving  to  all  things  a  turn  which 
deprived  them  of  their  absurdity. 

I  have  often  heard  M.  BernstorfF  spoken  of  by  a 
person  who  was  formerly  very  agreeable  to  him ;  I 
mean  the  Duchess  of  Mecklenbourg,  the  Duke  de 
Luxembourg's  sister.  She  praised  his  talent  very 
highly,  and  assured  me  that  it  was  she  who  gave  him 
to  the  Duke  George  William. 

The  wife  of  the  Marshal  de  Villars  is  running  after 
the  Count  de  Toulouse.  My  son  is  also  in  her  good 
graces,  and  is  not  a  whit  more  discreet.  Marshal  de 
Villars  came  one  day  to  see  me ;  and  as  he  pretends  to 
understand    medals  he   asked   to  see    mine.      Baudelot, 


320  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

who  is  a  very  honest  and  clever  man,  and  in  whose 
keeping  they  are,  was  desired  to  show  them  ;  he  is  not 
the  most  cautious  man  in  the  world,  and  is  very  little 
acquainted  with  what  is  going  on  at  Court.  He  had 
written  a  dissertation  upon  one  of  my  medals,  in  which 
he  proved,  against  the  opinion  of  other  learned  men,  that 
the  horned  head  which  it  displayed  was  that  of  Pan  and 
not  of  Jupiter  Ammon.  Honest  Baudelot,^  to  display 
his  erudition,  said  to  the  Marshal,  "Ah,  Monseigneur, 
this  is  one  of  the  finest  medals  that  Madame  possesses  : 
it  is  the  triumph  of  Cornificius  ;  he  has,  you  see,  all  sorts 
of  horns.  He  was  like  you,  sir,  a  great  general:  he 
wears  the  horns  of  Juno  and  Faunus.  Cornificius  was, 
as  you  probably  well  know,  sir,  a  very  able  general." 
Here  I  interrupted  him.  "  Let  us  pass  on,"  I  said, 
"  to  the  other  medal ;  if  you  stop  in  this  manner  at  each, 
you  will  not  have  time  to  show  the  whole." 

But  he,  full  of  his  subject,  returned  to  it.  "  Ah, 
Madame,"  he  went  on,  "  this  is  worthy  of  more  attention 
than  perhaps  any  other;  Cornificius  is,  indeed,  one  of 
the  most  rare  medals  in  the  world.  Look  at  it, 
Madame;  I  beg  you  to  observe  it  narrowly;  here,  you 
see,  is  Juno  crowned,  and  she  is  also  crowning  this  great 
general."  All  that  I  could  say  to  him  was  not  sufficient 
to  prevent  Baudelot  talking  to  the  Marshal  of  horns. 
"  Monseigneur,"  he  said,  "  is  well  versed  in  all  these 
matters,  and  I  want  him  to  see  that  I  am  right  in 
insisting  that  these  horns  are  those  of  Faunus,  not  those 
of  Jupiter  Ammon." 

All  the  people  who  were  in  the  chamber,  with 
difficulty  refrained  from  bursting  into  a  loud  laugh.     If 

I  Charles  Caesar  Baudelot  de  Douval,  born  at  Paris  in  1648. 


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ANECDOTES,    ETC  321 

the  plan  had  been  laid  for  the  purpose,  it  could  not  have 
succeeded  better.  When  the  Marshal  had  gone,  I,  too, 
indulged  myself  by  joining  in  the  laugh.  It  was  with 
great  difficulty  that  I  could  make  Baudelot  understand 
he  had  done  wrong. 

The  same  Baudelot,  one  day  at  a  masked  ball,  had 
been  saying  a  great  many  civil  things  to  the  Dowager 
Madame,  who  was  there  masked,  and  who,  therefore,  he 
did  not  know.  When  he  came  and  saw  that  it  was 
Madame,  he  was  terrified  with  affright :  the  Princess 
laughed  beyond  measure  at  it. 

Our  Princes  here  have  no  particular  costume. 
When  they  go  to  the  Parliament  they  wear  only  a  cloak, 
which,  in  my  opinion,  has  a  very  vulgar  appearance ;  and 
the  more  so,  as  they  wear  the  collet  without  a  cravat. 
Those  of  the  royal  family  have  no  privileges  above  the 
other  Dukes,  excepting  in  their  seats  and  the  right  of 
crossing  over  the  carpet,  which  is  allowed  to  none  but 
them.  The  President,  when  he  addresses  them,  is 
uncovered,  but  keeps  his  hat  on  when  he  speaks  to 
everybody  else.  This  is  the  cause  of  those  great  dis- 
putes which  the  Princes  of  the  blood  have  had  with  the 
bastards,  as  may  be  seen  by  their  memorial.  The 
Presidents  of  the  Parliament  wear  flame-coloured  robes 
trimmed  with  ermine  at  the  neck  and  sleeves. 

The  Countess  of  Soissons,  Angelique  Cunegonde, 
the  daughter  of  Fran9ois  Henri  de  Luxembourg,  has, 
it  must  be  confessed,  a  considerable  share  of  virtue  and 
of  wit ;  but  she  has  also  her  faults,  like  the  rest  of  the 
world.  It  may  be  said  of  her  that  she  is  truly  a  poor 
Princess.  Her  husband,  Louis  Henri  Chevalier  de 
Soissons,   was   very   ugly,  having   a   very   long   hooked 

21 


322  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

nose,  and  eyes  extremely  close  to  it.  He  was  as  yellow 
as  saffron  ;  his  mouth  was  extremely  small  for  a  man, 
and  full  of.  bad  teeth  of  a  most  villainous  odour ;  his 
legs  were  ugly  and  clumsy  ;  his  knees  and  feet  turned 
inwards,  which  made  him  look  when  he  was  walking 
like  a  parrot ;  and  his  manner  of  making  a  bow 
was  bad.  He  was  rather  short  than  otherwise;  but 
he  had  fine  hair  and  a  large  quantity  of  it.  He 
was  rather  good-looking  when  a  child.  I  have  seen 
portraits  of  him  painted  at  that  period.  If  the  Countess 
de  Soissons'  son  had  resembled  his  mother,  he  would 
have  been  very  well,  for  her  features  are  good,  and 
nothing  could  be  better  than  her  eyes,  her  mouth, 
and  the  turn  of  her  face ;  only  her  nose  was  too  large 
and  thick,  and  her  skin  was  not  fine  enough. 

Whoever  is  like  the  Prince  Eugene  in  person 
cannot  be  called  a  handsome  man ;  he  is  shorter  than 
his  elder  brother,  but,  with  the  exception  of  Prince 
Eugene,  all  the  rest  of  them  are  good  for  nothing. 
The  youngest.  Prince  Philip,  was  a  great  madman, 
and  died  of  the  small-pox  at  Paris.  He  was  of  a 
very  fair  complexion,  had  an  ungraceful  manner,  and 
always  looked  distracted.  He  had  a  nose  like  a  hawk, 
a  large  mouth,  thick  lips,  and  hollow  cheeks ;  in 
all  respects  I  thought  he  was  like  his  elder  brother. 
The  third  brother,  who  was  called  the  Chevalier  de 
Savoy,  died  in  consequence  of  a  fall  from  his  horse. 
The  Prince  Eugene  was  a  younger  brother :  he  had 
two  sisters,  who  were  equally  ugly ;  one  of  them  is 
dead,  and  the  other  is  still  living  (171 7)  in  a  convent 
in  Savoy.  The  elder  was  of  a  monstrous  shape,  but  a 
mere  dwarf :    she  led  a  very  irregular  life.      She  after- 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  323 

wards  ran  away  with  a  rogue,  the  Abbe  de  la  BourHe, 
whom  she  obliged  to  marry  her  at  Geneva  ;  they  used 
to  beat  each  other.     She  is  now  dead. 

Prince  Eugene  was  not  in  his  younger  days  so  ugly 
as  he  has  become  since ;  but  he  never  was  good-looking, 
nor  had  he  any  nobility  in  his  manner.  His  eyes  were 
pretty  good,  but  his  nose  and  two  large  teeth  which  he 
displayed  whenever  he  opened  his  mouth,  completely 
spoilt  his  face.  He  was  besides  always  very  filthy,  and 
his  coarse  hair  was  never  dressed. 

This  Prince  is  little  addicted  to  women,  and  during 
the  whole  time  that  he  has  been  here,  I  never  heard  one 
mentioned  who  has  pleased  him,  or  whom  he  has  dis- 
tinguished or  visited  more  than  another.  *  * 
*                  a                  «•                  -s:-                  *                  * 

His  mother  took  no  care  of  him;  she  brought  him 
up  like  a  scullion,  and  liked  better  to  stake  her  money 
at  play  than  to  expend  it  upon  her  youngest  son.  This 
is  the  ordinary   practice  of  women  in  this  country. 

They  will  not  yet  believe  that  the  Persian  Am- 
bassador was  an  impostor';  it  is  quite  certain  that  he 
was  a  clumsy  fellow,  although  he  had  some  sense. 
There  was   an   air  of  magnificence   about   the   way   in 


I  This  embassy  was  always  equivocal,  and  even  something 
more.  From  all  that  can  be  understood  of  it,  it  would  seem  that  a 
minister  of  one  of  the  Persian  provinces,  a  sort  of  Intendant  de 
Langucdoc,  as  we  might  say,  had  commissioned  this  pretended 
ambassador  to  manage  for  him  some  commercial  affairs  with  certain 
merchants,  and  that  for  his  own  amusement  the  agent  chose  to 
represent  the  Persian  Ambassador.  It  is  said,  too,  that  Pontchar- 
train,  under  whose  department  this  affair  fell,  would  not  expose  the 
trick  that  the  King  might  be  amused,  and  that  he  might  recommend 
himself  to  His  Majesty's  favour  by  making  him  believe  that  the 
Sophy  had  sent  him  an  ambassador. — Notes  to  Dangeau's  Journal. 

21 — 2 


324  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

which  he  gave  audience.  He  prevailed  upon  a  married 
woman,  who  was  pregnant  by  him,  to  abjure  Christianity. 
It  is  true  she  was  not  a  very  respectable  person,  being 
the  illegitimate  daughter  of  my  son's  chief  almoner,  the 
Abbe  de  Gran9ay,  who  always  kept  a  little  seraglio.  In 
order  to  carry  her  away  with  him,  the  Ambassador  had 
her  fastened  up  in  a  box  filled  with  holes,  and  then 
begged  that  no  person  might  be  allowed  to  touch  it, 
being,  as  he  said,  filled  with  the  sacred  books  written  by 
Mahomet  himself,  which  would  be  polluted  by  the  con- 
tact of  Christians.  Upon  this  pretence  the  permission 
was  given,  and  by  these  means  the  woman  was  carried 
off.  I  cannot  believe  the  story  which  is  told  of  this 
ambassador  having  had  10,000  louis-d'or  given  him. 

I  had  the  misfortune  to  displease  the  Margrave  John 
Frederic  of  Anspach.  He  brought  me  a  letter  from  my 
brother  and  his  wife,  both  of  whom  begged  I  would 
assist  him  with  my  advice.  I  therefore  thought  that  by 
counselling  him  as  I  should  have  counselled  my  own 
brother  I  should  be  rendering  him  the  best  service. 
When  he  arrived  he  was  in  deep  mourning  for  his  first 
wife,  who  had  then  not  been  dead  three  months.  I  asked 
him  what  he  proposed  to  do  in  France  ?  He  replied 
•'  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  England,  but  that  before  his 
departure  he  should  wish  to  pay  his  respects  to  the  King." 
I  asked  him  if  he  had  anything  to  solicit  from  the  King 
or  to  arrange  with  him.  He  replied  "  he  had  not." 
"  Then,"  I  said,  "  I  would  advise  you,  if  you  will 
permit  me,  to  send  the  principal  person  of  your  suite 
to  the  King  to  make  your  compliments,  to  inform  him 
that  you  are  going  to  England,  and  that  you  would  not 
have  failed  to  wait  upon  him,  but  that  being  in  mourning 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  325 

for  your  wife,  your  respect  for  him  prevented  your 
appearing  before  him  in  so  melancholy  a  garb."  "  But," 
he  rejoined,  "  I  am  very  fond  of  dancing,  and  I  wish 
to  go  to  the  ball;  now  I  cannot  go  thither  until  I 
have  first  visited  the  King."  "  For  God's  sake,"  I  said, 
"do  not  go  to  the  ball;  it  is  not  the  custom  here. 
You  will  be  laughed  at,  and  the  more  particularly  so 
because  the  Marshal  de  Grammont,  who  presented  you 
to  the  King  some  years  ago,  said  that  you  could  find 
nothing  to  praise  in  the  whole  of  France,  with  the 
exception  of  a  little  goldfinch  in  the  King's  cabinet 
which  whistled  airs.  I  recommend  you  not  to  go  to 
see  the  King,  nor  to  be  present  at  the  ball."  He 
was  angry  and  said  "he  saw  very  well  that  I  dis- 
countenanced German  princes,  and  did  not  wish  them 
to  be  presented  to  the  King."  I  replied  "that  the  advice 
I  had  given  him  sprang  from  the  best  intentions,  and 
was  such  as  I  would  have  given  to  my  own  brother." 
He  went  away  quite  angry  to  Marshal  Schomberg's, 
where  he  complained  of  my  behaviour  to  him.  The 
Marshal  asked  him  what  I  had  said,  which  he  repeated 
word  for  word.  The  Marshal  told  him  that  I  had  advised 
him  well,  and  that  he  was  himself  of  my  opinion.  Never- 
theless, the  Margrave  persisted  on  being  presented  to  the 
King,  whither  he  prevailed  upon  the  Marshal  to  accom- 
pany him ;  and  went  the  next  day  to  the  ball.  He  was 
extremely  well  dressed  in  half-mourning,  with  white  lace 
over  the  black,  fine  blue  ribands,  black  and  white  laces, 
and  rheingraves,  which  look  well  upon  persons  of  a  good 
figure ;  in  short,  he  was  magnificently  dressed,  but 
improperly  for  a  widower  in  the  first  stage  of  his 
mourning.     He  would  have  seated   himself  within  the 


320  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

King's  circle,  where  none  but  the  members  of  the  royal 
family  and  the  King's  grandchildren  are  allowed  to 
sit ;  the  Princes  of  the  blood  even  are  not  allowed  to 
do  so,  and  therefore  foreign  princes  can  of  course  have 
no  right.  The  Margrave  then  began  to  repent  not 
having  believed  me,  and  early  the  next  morning  he 
set  off. 

Prince  Ragotzky  is  under  great  obligations  to  his 
wife,  who  saved  his  Hfe  and  delivered  him  from  prison. 
Some  person  was  repeating  things  to  her  disadvantage, 
but  he  interrupted  them  by  saying, — "  She  saved  my 
head  from  the  axe,  and  this  prevents  my  having  any 
right  to  reprove  too  strictly  whatever  she  may  choose  to 
do  ;  for  this  reason  I  shall  not  thank  any  person  who 
speaks  to  me  upon  the  subject.^" 

Beatrice  Eleanora,  the  Queen  of  James  II.,  was 
always  upon  such  good  terms  with  Maintenon  that  it 
is  impossible  to  believe  our  late  King  was  ever  fond  of 
her.  I  have  seen  a  book  entitled  "L'ancien  hätard  protecteuv 
du  nonveau,'"  in  lamo.,  in  which  is  related  a  gallantry 
between  the  Queen  and  the  Pere  la  Chaise.  The  Con- 
fessor was  then  eighty  years  of  age,  and  not  unlike  an 
ass ;  his  ears  were  very  long,  his  mouth  very  wide,  his 
head  very  large,  and  his  body  very  long.  It  was  an 
ill-chosen  joke.  This  libel  was  even  less  credible  than 
what  was  stated  about  the  King  himself. 

The  Monks  of  Saint  Mihiel  possess  the  original 
manuscripts  of  the  Memoirs  of  Cardinal  Retz.  They 
have   had   them   printed   and   are  now   selling  them  at 

I  Louis  XIV.  gave  to  the  Prince  Ragotsky,  who  in  France 
took  the  title  of  Count  of  Saaross,  2.00,000  crowns  upon  the  Maison 
de  Ville,  and  a  pension  of  2,000  crowns  per  month  besides. 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  327 

Nanci ;  but  in  this  copy  there  are  many  omissions.  A 
lady  at  Paris,  Madame  Caumartin,  has  a  copy  in  which 
there  is  not  a  word  deficient ;  but  she  has  obstinately 
refused  to  lend  it  that  the  others  may  be  made  complete. 

When  an  ambassador  would  make  his  entry  at  Paris 
he  has  himself  announced  some  days  before  by  the  officers 
whose  duty  it  is  to  introduce  ambassadors,  in  order  that 
the  usual  compliments  may  be  paid  him.  To  royal 
ambassadors  a  chevalier  d'honneur  is  sent,  to  those  from 
Venice  or  Holland  the  first  equerry,  and  when  he  is 
absent  or  unwell  the  chief  Maitre  d'Hotel,  who  is  also 
sent  to  the  ambassador  from  Malta. 

The  English  ladies  are  said  to  be  much  given  to 
running  away  with  their  lovers.  I  knew  a  Count  de 
Konigsmark,  whom  a  young  English  lady  followed  in 
the  dress  of  a  page.  He  had  her  with  him  at  Chambord, 
and  as  there  was  no  room  for  her  in  the  castle  he 
lodged  her  under  a  tent  which  he  had  put  up  in  the 
forest.  When  we  were  at  the  chase  one  day  he  told  me 
this  adventure.  As  I  had  a  great  curiosity  to  see  her, 
I  rode  towards  the  tent,  and  never  in  my  hfe  did  I  see 
anything  prettier  that  this  girl  in  the  habit  of  a  page. 
She  had  large  and  beautiful  eyes,  a  charming  little  nose, 
and  an  elegant  mouth  and  teeth.  She  smiled  when  she 
saw  me,  for  she  suspected  that  the  Count  had  told  me 
the  whole  story.  Her  hair  was  a  beautiful  chestnut 
colour,  and  hung  about  her  neck  in  large  curls.  After 
their  departure  from  Chambord,  while  they  were  at 
an  inn  upon  their  way  to  Italy,  the  innkeeper's 
wife  ran  to  the  Count,  crying,  "  Sir,  make  haste 
upstairs,  for  your  page  is  lying-in."  She  was  de- 
livered   of    a    girl,    and    the    mother    and    child    were 


328  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

soon  afterwards  placed  in  a  convent  near  Paris. 
While  the  Count  lived  he  took  great  care  of  her,  but  he 
died  in  the  Morea,  and  his  pretended  page  did  not  long 
survive  him  ;  she  displayed  great  piety  in  the  hour  of 
death.  A  friend  of  the  Count's,  and  a  nephew  of  Madame 
de  Montespan,  took  care  of  the  child,  and  after  his  death 
the  King  gave  the  little  creature  a  pension.  I  believe 
she  is  still  (171 7)  in  the  convent. 

The  Abbe  Perrault  founded  an  annual  funeral 
oration  for  the  Prince  de  Conde  in  the  Jesuits'  Church, 
where  his  heart  is  deposited.  I  shall  not  upon  this 
occasion  call  to  mind  his  victories,  his  courage  in  war, 
or  his  timidity  at  Court ;  these  are  things  well  known 
throughout  France. 

A  gentleman  of  my  acquaintance  at  Paris  heard  a 
learned  Abbe,  who  was  in  the  confidence  of  Des  Cartes, 
say  that  the  philosopher  used  often  to  laugh  at  his  own 
system,  and  said,  "I  have  cut  them  out  some  work:  we 
shall  see  who  will  be  fools  enough  to  undertake  it." 

That  old  Beauvais,  the  Queen-mother's  ürstfcmmede 
chambre,  was  acquainted  with  the  secret  of  her  marriage, 
and  this  obliged  the  Queen  to  put  up  with  whatever  the 
confidante  chose  to  do,^  From  this  circumstance  has 
arisen  that  custom  which  gives  femines  de  chambre  so  much 
authority  in  our  apartments.  The  Queen-mother,  the 
widow  of  Louis  XIII.,  not  contented  with  loving  Cardinal 
Mazarin,  went  the  absurd  length  of  marrying  him.  He 
was  not  a  priest,  and  therefore  was  not  prevented  by 

I  She  was  a  woman  who  had  long  been  known  to  the  most 
eminent  persons  of  the  Court,  and  although  she  had  become  old, 
hideous,  and  had  only  one  eye,  she  continued  to  appear  at  Court 
from  time  to  time  in  full  dress  and  to  be  treated  with  distinction  up 
to  her  death. — Notes  du  Journal  de  Dangeuu. 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  3^9 

his    orders    from    contracting    matrimony.      He    soon, 
however,    got    very    tired    of    the     poor     Queen,     and 
treated   her   dreadfully  ill,  which  is  the  ordinary  result 
in  such   marriages.     But  it  is   the   vice   of    the    times 
to  contract  clandestine  marriages.     The  Queen-mother 
of  England,  the  widow  of  Charles  IL,  made  such  an  one 
in  marrying  her  chevalier  d'Jionneuy,  who  behaved  very  ill  to 
her ;  while  the  poor  Queen  was  in  want  of  food  and  fuel, 
he  had  a  good  fire  in  his  apartment,  and  was  giving  great 
dinners.     He  called  himself  Lord  Germain,  Earl  of  St. 
Albans:    he  never  addressed  a  kind  expression   to   the 
Queen.     As   to    the   Queen-mother's   marriage,   all   the 
circumstances  relating  to  it  are  now  well  enough  known. 
The   secret   passage  by  which   he  went  nightly  to  the 
Palais  Royal  may  still  be  seen ;  when  she  used  to  visit 
him,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  saying,  "What  does  this 
woman  want  with  me  ? "     He  was  in  love  with  a  lady 
of    the   Queen's   suite,    whom    I    knew   very  well:    she 
had   apartments   in   the    Palais  Royal,   and   was   called 
Madame  de   Bregie.       As    she    was   very    pretty,    she 
excited   a   good   deal  of  passion;    but  she   was   a  very 
honest  lady,  who  served  the  Queen  with  great  fidelity, 
and  was  the  cause  of  the  Cardinal's  living  upon  better 
terms  with  the  Queen  than  before.     She  had  very  good 
sense :  Monsieur  loved  her  for  her  fidehty  to  the  Queen 
his  mother.      She   has   been  dead  now  four-and-twenty 

years  (1717). 

The  Princess  de  Deux  Ponts  has  recently  furnished 
another  instance  of  the  misfortune  which  usually  attends 
the  secret  marriages  of  ladies  of  high  birth.  She  married 
her  equerry,  was  very  ill-treated  by  him,  and  led  a  very 
miserable  life:  but  she  deserved  all  she  met  with  and 


33©  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

I  foresaw  it.  She  was  with  me  at  the  Opera  once,  and 
insisted  at  all  events  that  her  equerry  should  sit  behind 
her.  "For  God's  sake,"  I  said  to  her,  "be  quiet,  and  give 
yourself  no  trouble  about  this  Gerstorf ;  you  do  not  know 
the  manners  of  this  country  ;  when  folks  perceive  you  are 
so  anxious  about  that  man,  they  will  think  you  are  in  love 
with  him."  I  did  not  know  then  how  near  this  was  to 
the  truth.  She  replied,  "Do  people,  then, in  this  country 
take  no  care  of  their  servants  ?  "  "  Oh,  yes,"  I  said, 
"  they  request  some  of  their  friends  to  carry  them  to  the 
Opera,  but  they  do  not  go  with  them." 

M.  Pentenrieder^  is  a  perfect  gentleman,  extremely 
well  bred,  totally  divested  of  the  vile  Austrian  manners, 
and  speaks  good  German  instead  of  the  jargon  of  Austria. 
While  he  was  staying  here,  the  Fair  of  Saint  Germain 

I  Baron  Pentenrieder  was  the  Austrian  minister  at  the  Hague 
in  1718,  and  afterwards  at  the  Congress  of  Soissons,  and  at  that 
of  Cambray.  Baron  Bielfield,  in  his  work  entitled  Institutions 
Politiqnes,  torn,  ii.,  relates  the  following  anecdote  of  this  gentle- 
man. "  Some  monarchs  have  felt  a  secret  satisfaction  in  seeing 
a  minister  disconcerted  by  their  mere  looks.  Louis  XIV.,  while 
giving  audience  to  the  celebrated  Baron  de  Pentenrieder,  who  had 
a  great  reputation  for  presence  of  mind,  was  a  good  deal  piqued 
at  the  small  impression  which  his  presence  seemed  to  have 
upon  that  ambassador.  For  the  purpose  of  intimidating  him,  the 
King  interrupted  him  in  the  first  sentence  of  his  speech,  which 
commenced  thus :  '  Sire,  the  Emperor,  my  master,  has  sent  me  to 
your  Majesty,'  by  saying  to  him  in  an  angry  tone,  '  Speak  louder, 
Monsieur  I'Ambassadeur.'  The  latter,  without  the  least  embarrass- 
ment, replied,  'Louder?  The  Emperor,  my  master,  Sire,  sends  me 
to  your  Majesty,'  thus  naming  the  Emperor  before  the  King,  and 
keeping  his  voice  at  an  elevated  pitch,  he  continued  his  discourse. 
When  he  quitted  the  audience,  some  of  the  courtiers  complimented 
him  upon  his  sang-froid;  he  replied,  '  I  am  in  the  habit  of  seeing  the 
Emperor  every  day.'  This  repartee  is  creditable  to  the  Baron's  wit, 
but  was  probably  not  very  advantageous  to  his  master's  interests. 
It  costs  so  little  to  flatter  a  king's  little  weaknesses." 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  331 

commenced  ;  a  giant,  who  came  to  Paris  for  the  purpose 
of  exhibiting  himself,  having  accidentally  met  M.  Pen- 
tenrieder,  said  as  soon  as  he  saw  him,  "  It's  all  over 
with  me:  I  shall  not  go  into  the  fair;  for  who  will  give 
money  to  see  me  while  this  man  shows  himself  for 
nothing  ?  "  and  he  really  went  away.  M.  Pentenrieder 
pleased  everybody.  Count  Zinzendorf,  who  succeeded 
him,  did  not  resemble  him  at  all,  but  was  a  perfect 
Austrian  in  his  manners  and  his  language.  »  * 

I  have  heard  that  it  was  from  the  excitement  of 
insulted  honour  that  Ravaillac  was  induced  to  murder 
Henri  IV.;  for  that  the,  King  had  seduced  his  sister, 
and  had  abandoned  her  during  her  pregnancy  :  the 
brother  then  swore  he  would  be  avenged  on  the  King. 
Some  persons  even  accuse  the  Duke  d'Epernon,  who 
was  seated  in  the  coach  in  such  a  manner  that  he  might 
have  warded  off  the  blow,  but  he  is  said  to  have  drawn 
back  and  given  the  assassin  an  opportunity  to  strike. 

When  I  first  came  to  France  I  found  in  it  such  an 
assemblage  of  talent  as  occurs  but  in  few  ages.  There 
was  Lulli  in  music  ;  Beauchamp  in  ballets  ;  Corneille 
and  Racine  in  tragedy ;  Moliere  in  comedy ;  La  Chamelle 
and  La  Beauval,  actresses;  and  Baron,  Lafleur, 
Toriliere  and  Guerin,  actors.  Each  of  these  persons 
was  excellent  in  his  way.  La  Duclos  and  La  Raisin 
were  also  very  good ;  the  charms  of  the  latter  had  even 
penetrated  the  thick  heart  of  our  Dauphin,  who  loved 
her  very  tenderly :  her  husband  was  excellent  in  comic 
parts.  There  was  also  a  very  good  harlequin,  and  as 
good  a  scaramouch.  Among  the  best  performers  at  the 
Opera  were  Clediere,  Pomereuil,  Godenarche,  Dumenil, 
La    Rochechouard,    Maury,    La    Saint    Christophe,    La 


332  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

Brigogne,  La  Beaucreux.  All  that  we  see  and  hear 
now  do  not  equal  them. 

That  which  pleased  me  most  in  Beauvernois'  life 
is  the  answer  he  made  to  the  Prince  of  Vaudemont. 
When  he  was  fleeing,  and  had  arrived  at  Brussels, 
he  gave  himself  out  for  a  Prince  of  Lorraine.  M.  de 
Vaudemont  sent  for  him,  and  upon  seeing  him,  said, 
"  I  know  all  the  Princes  of  Lorraine,  but  I  do  not  know 
you." — •*  I  assure  you,  sir,"  replied  Beauvernois,  *'  that 
I  am  as  much  a  Prince  of  Lorraine  as  you  are." 

I  like  that  Mercy  who  tricked  his  master  the  Duke 
de  Lorraine.  When  he  reached  Nanci  he  requested 
the  Duke  to  recruit  three  regiments,  which  he  said 
should  be  his  own.  The  Duke  did  recruit  them,  fully 
persuaded  they  were  to  be  his ;  but  when  the  companies 
were  filled,  Mercy  begged  the  Emperor  to  give  them 
to  him,  and  he  actually  obtained  them ;  so  that  the 
Duke  had  not  the  appointment  of  a  single  officer. 

The  poor  Duchess  de  Mecklenbourg,  the  wife  of 
Christian  Louis,  was  a  very  good  woman  when  one 
was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  her.  She  told  me  the 
whole  history  of  her  intrigue  with  BernstorfF.  She 
regulated  her  household  very  well,  and  had  always 
two  carriages.  She  did  not  affect  the  splendour  of  a 
sovereign  ;  but  she  kept  up  her  rank  better  than  the 
other  Duchesses,  and  I  liked  her  the  better  for  this. 
The  husband,  Christian  Louis  of  Mecklenbourg,  was  a 
notable  fool  :  he  one  day  demanded  an  audience  of 
the  King,  under  the  pretence  of  having  something  of 
importance  to  say  to  him.  Louis  XIV.  was  then  more 
than  forty  years  old.  When  the  Duke  found  himself 
in  the  King's  presence,  he  said  to  him,  "  Sire,  you  seem 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  333 

to  me  to  have  grown."  The  King  laughed,  and  said, 
"  Monsieur,  I  am  past  the  age  of  growing."  "  Sire," 
rejoined  the  Duke,  "  do  you  know  everybody  says  I 
am  very  much  Hke  you,  and  quite  as  good-looking  as 
you  are  ?  "  "  That  is  very  probable,"  said  the  King, 
still  laughing.  The  audience  was  then  finished,  and 
the  Duke  went  away.  This  fool  could  never  engage 
his  brother-in-law's  favour,  for  M.  de  Luxembourg  had 
no  regard  for  him. 

When  the  Queen  had  the  government  of  the 
country,  all  the  females  of  the  Court,  even  to  the  very 
servants,  became  intriguers.  They  say  it  was  the 
most  ridiculous  thing  in  the  world  to  see  the  eagerness 
with  which  women  meddled  with  the  Queen-mother's 
regency.  At  the  commencement  she  knew  nothing  at 
all.  She  made  a  present  to  her  first  femme  de  chambre  of 
five  large  farms,  upon  which  the  whole  Court  subsisted. 
When  she  went  to  the  Council  to  propose  the  affair 
everybody  laughed,  and  she  was  asked  how  she  proposed 
to  live.  She  was  quite  astonished  when  the  thing  was 
explained  to  her,  for  she  thought  she  had  only  given 
away  five  ordinary  farms.  This  anecdote  is  very  true, 
and  was  related  to  me  by  the  old  Chancellor  Le  Tellier, 
who  was  present  at  the  Council.  She  is  said  often  to 
have  laughed  as  she  confessed  her  ignorance.  Many 
other  things  of  a  similar  nature  happened  during  the 
regency. 

There  is  a  bishop  of  a  noble  family,  tolerably  young 
but  very  ugly,  who  was  at  first  so  devout  that  he  thought 
of  entering  La  Trappe  ;  he  wore  his  hair  combed  down 
straight,  and  dared  not  look  a  woman  in  the  face.  Having 
learned  that  in  the  city  wehere  he  held  his  see  there  was 


334  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

a  frail  fair  one,  whose  gallantries  had  become  notorious, 
he  felt  a  great  desire  to  convert  her  and  to  make  her 
come  to  the  confessional.  She  was,  it  is  said,  a  very 
pretty  woman,  and  had,  moreover,  a  great  deal  of  wit. 
No  sooner  had  the  bishop  began  to  visit  than  he  began  to 
pay  attention  to  his  hair  :  first  he  powdered  it,  and  then 
he  had  it  dressed.  At  length  he  swallowed  the  bait  so 
completely,  that  he  neither  quitted  the  fair  siren  by  night 
nor  by  day.  His  clergy  ventured  to  exhort  him  to  put 
an  end  to  this  scandal,  but  he  replied  that  if  they  did 
not  cease  their  remonstrances  he  would  find  means  of 
making  them.  At  length  he  even  rode  through  the  city 
in  his  carriage  with  his  fair  penitent.  The  people  became 
so  enraged  at  this  that  they  pelted  him  with  stones. 
His  relations  repaired  to  his  diocese  for  the  purpose  of 
exhorting  him  in  their  turn,  but  he  would  only  receive  his 
mother,  and  would  not  even  follow  her  advice.  His 
relations  then  applied  to  the  Regent  to  summon  the  lady 
to  Paris.  She  came,  but  her  lover  followed  and  recovered 
her  ;  at  length  she  was  torn  from  him  by  a  kttre-de-cachet, 
and  taken  from  his  arms  to  a  house  of  correction.  The 
bishop  is  in  a  great  rage,  and  declares  that  he  will  never 
forgive  his  family  for  the  affront  which  has  been  put  upon 
him  (1718). 

The  Queen-mother  is  said  to  have  eaten  four  times 
a  day  in  a  frightful  manner,  and  this  practice  is  supposed 
to  have  brought  on  that  cancer  in  the  breast,  which  she 
sought  to  conceal  by  strong  Spanish  perfumes,  and  of 
which  she  died. 

Those  female  branches  of  the  French  Royal  Family, 
who  are  called  Enfans  de  France,  all  bear  the  title  of 
Madame.     For  this  reason  it  is  that  in  the  brevets  they 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  335 

are  called  ^Madame,  the  Duchess  de  Berri ;  Madame,  the 
Duchess  d' Orleans;  but  in  conversation  they  are  called 
the  Duchess  de  Berri,  the  Duchess  d'Orleans,  or  rather, 
one  should  say,  Madame  de  Berri  will  have  it  so  with 
respect  to  herself.  The  title  of  Duchess  of  Orleans 
belongs  to  Madame,  the  Duchess  of  Orleans,  as  grand- 
daughter. Such  is  the  custom  prevalent  here.  The 
brother  and  the  sister-in-law  of  the  King  are  called 
simply  Monsieur  and  Madame,  and  these  titles  are  also 
contained  in  my  hvevets ;  but  I  suffer  myself  to  be  called 
commonly  Madame,  the  Duchess  d'Orleans.  Madame 
de  Berri  will  be  called  Madame,  the  Duchess  de  Berri, 
because  being  only  an  Enfant  de  France  of  the  third 
descent,  she  has  need  of  that  title  to  set  off  her  relation- 
ship. There  is  nothing  to  be  said  for  this :  if  there  were 
any  unmarried  daughters  of  the  late  King,  each  would 
be  called  Madame,  with  the  addition  of  their  baptismal 
name.         *  *  -"-  *  *  * 

It  seems  that  Queen  Mary  of  England  was  some- 
thing of  a  coquette  in  Holland.  Count  d'Avaux,  the 
French  Ambassador,  told  me  himself  that  he  had  had  a 
secret  interview  with  her  at  the  apartments  of  one  of  the 
Queen's  maids  of  honour,  Madame  Treslane.  The 
Prince  of  Orange,  becoming  acquainted  with  the  affair, 
dismissed  the  young  lady,  but  invented  some  other 
pretext  that  the  real  cause  might  not  be  known. 

Three  footmen  had  a  quarrel  together ;  two  of  them 
refused  to  admit  the  third  to  their  table,  saying,  "  as  he 
and  his  master  only  serve  a  president's  wife,  he  cannot 
presume  to  compare  himself  with  us,  who  serve 
princesses  and  duchesses."  The  rejected  footman 
called  another  fellow  to  his  aid,  and  a  violent  squabble 


336  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

ensiled.  The  commissaire  was  called :  he  found  that 
they  served  three  brothers,  the  sons  of  a  rich  merchant 
at  Rouen ;  two  of  them  had  bought  companies  in  the 
French  Guards ;  one  of  the  two  had  an  intrigue  with 
the  wife  of  Duke  d'Abret,  and  the  other  with  the 
Duchess  of  Luxembourg,  while  the  third  was  only 
engaged  with  the  wife  of  a  president.  The  two  former 
were  called  Colande  and  Maigremont ;  and,  as  at  the 
same  time  the  Duke  d'Abret,  the  son  of  the  Duke  de 
Bouillon,  was  in  love  with  the  lady  of  the  President 
Savari,  the  following  verse  was  made  upon  the  ad- 
venture : — 

Colande  a  fait  un  Bouillon, 

Luxembourg  un  Maigremont, 

Et  du  Due  d'Abret,  peut-etre, 

Un  petit  Savari  va  naitre, 
Lampons,  Lampons. 

The  Envoy  from  Holstein,  M.  Dumont,  was  very 
much  attached  to  Madame  de  la  Rochefoucauld,  one  of 
Madame  de  Berri's  dames  du  palais.  She  was  very  pretty, 
but  gifted  with  no  other  than  personal  charms.  Someone 
was  joking  her  on  this  subject,  and  insinuated  that  she 
had  treated  her  lover  very  favourably.  "Oh!  no," 
she  replied,  "that  is  impossible,  I  assure  you,  entirely 
impossible."  When  she  was  urged  to  say  what  con- 
stituted the  impossibility,  she  replied,  "  If  I  tell,  you 
will  immediately  agree  with  me  that  it  is  quite  im- 
possible." Being  pressed  still  further,  she  said,  with  a 
very  serious  air,  "  Because  he  is  a  Protestant !  " 

y  1)C  ^  IfC  <fC  *fC 

When  the  marriage  of  Monsieur  was  declared,  he 
said  to  Saint  Remi,  "  Did  you  know  that  I  was  married 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  337 

to  the  Princess  of  Lorraine  ? "  "  No,  Monsieur,  replied 
the  latter;  "I  knew  very  well  that  you  lived  with  her, 
but  I  did  not  think  you  would  have  married  her." 

Queen  Mary  de  ]\Iedici,  the  wife  of  Henry  IV., 
was  one  day  walking  at  the  Tuileries  with  her  son  the 
Dauphin,  when  the  King's  mistress  came  into  the  garden, 
having  also  her  son  with  her.  The  mistress  said  very 
insolently  to  the  Queen,  "  There  are  our  two  Dauphins 
walking  together,  but  mine  is  a  fairer  one  than  yours." 
The  Queen  gave  her  a  smart  box  on  the  ear,  and  said 
at  the  same  time,  "  Let  this  impertinent  woman  be 
taken  away."  The  mistress  ran  instantly  to  Henry  IV. 
to  complain,  but  the  King,  having  heard  her  story,  said, 
"  This  is  your  own  fault ;  why  did  you  not  speak  to  the 
Queen  with  the  respect  which  you  owe  to  her." 

Madame  de  Fiennes,  who  in  her  youth  had  been 
about  the  Queen-mother,  used  always  to  say  to  the  late 
Monsieur,  *'  The  Queen,  your  mother,  was  a  very  silly 
woman ;  rest  her  soul ! "  My  aunt,  the  Abbess  of 
IMaubuisson,  told  me  that  she  saw  at  the  Queen's  a 
man  who  was  called  "  the  repairer  of  the  Queen's  face"  ; 
that  Princess,  as  well  as  all  the  ladies  of  the  Court, 
wore  great  quantities  of  paint. 

On  account  of  the  great  services  which  the  House  of 
Arpajon  in  France  had  rendered  to  the  Order  of  Malta,  a 
privilege  was  formerly  granted  that  the  second  son  of 
that  family  should  at  his  birth  become  a  Knight  of  the 
Order  without  the  necessity  of  any  proof  or  any  inquiry 
as  to  his  mother. 

The  Czar  Peter  I.  is  not  mad  ;  he  has  sense  enough, 
and  if  he  had  not  unfortunately  been  so  brutally  educated 
he  would  have  made  a  good  prince.     The  way  in  which 

22 


338  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

he  behaved  to  his  Czarowitz  (Alexis)  is  horrible.  He 
gave  his  word  that  he  would  do  him  no  injury,  and 
afterwards  poisoned  him  by  means  of  the  Sacrament. 
This  is  so  impious  and  abominable  that  I  can  never 
forgive  him  for  it  (1719). 

The  last  Duke  of  Ossuna  had,  it  is  said,  a  very 
beautiful,  but  at  the  same  time  a  passionate  and  jealous 
wife.  Having  learnt  that  her  husband  had  chosen  a  very 
fine  stuff  for  the  dress  of  his  mistress,  an  actress,  she  went 
to  the  merchant  and  procured  it  of  him.  He,  thinking  it 
was  intended  for  her,  made  no  scruple  of  delivering  it  to 
her.  After  it  was  made  up  she  put  it  on,  and  showing  it 
to  her  husband,  said,  "  Do  not  you  think  it  is  very 
beautiful  ? "  The  husband,  angry  at  the  trick,  replied, 
"  Yes,  the  stuff  is  beautiful,  but  it  is  put  to  an  un- 
worthy use."  "  That  is  what  everybody  says  of  me,'" 
retorted  the  Duchess. 

At  Fontainebleau  in  the  Queen's  cabinet  may  be 
seen  the  portrait  oi  La  Belle  Ferronnieve,  who  was  so 
much  beloved  by  Francis  I.,  and  who  was  the  unwitting 
cause  of  his  death.  ***** 

I  have  often  walked  at  night  in  the  gallery  at 
Fontainebleau  where  the  King's  ghost  is  said  to  appear,^ 
but  the  good  Francis  I.  never  did  me  the  honour  to  show 
himself.  Perhaps  it  was  because  he  thought  my  prayers 
were  not  efficacious  enough  to  draw  him  from  purgatory, 
and  in  this  I  think  he  was  quite  right. 

1  The  Queen-mother  had  fitted  up  an  apartment  near  this 
gallery,  which  her  fenimes  de  chambre  were  obliged  to  cross  at  night. 
It  was  by  them  that  the  ghost  of  Francis  I.  was  seen  walking  about 
in  a  green  robe  de  chambre  with  large  figures  upon  it. 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  339 

King  James  II.  died  with  great  firmness  and  resolu- 
tion, and  without  any  bigotry;  that  is  to  say,  very 
differently  from  the  manner  in  which  he  had  lived.  I  saw 
and  spoke  to  him  four-and-twenty  hours  before  his  death. 
"  I  hope,"  I  said,  "  soon  to  hear  of  your  Majesty's  getting 
better."  He  smiled  and  said,  "  If  I  should  die,  shall  I 
not  have  lived  long  enough  ?  " 

I  hardly  know  how  to  rejoice  at  the  accession  of 
our  Prince  George  to  the  Throne  of  England,  for  I  have 
no  confidence  in  the  English  people.  I  remember  still 
too  well  the  fine  speeches  which  were  made  here  not 
long  ago  by  Lord  Peterborough.  I  would  rather  that 
our  Elector  was  Emperor  of  Germany,  and  I  wish  that 
the  King  who  is  here  (James  II.)  was  again  in  possession 
of  England,  because  the  kingdom  belongs  to  him.  I  fear 
that  the  inconstancy  of  the  English  will  in  the  end  pro- 
duce some  scheme  which  maybe  injurious  to  us.  Perhaps 
there  was  never  in  any  nation  a  King  who  had  been 
crowned  with  more  eclat,  or  a  tumultuous  joy  than 
James  II. ;  and  yet  the  same  nation  since  persecuted 
him  in  the  most  pitiless  manner,  and  has  so  tormented 
his  innocent  son  that  he  can  scarcely  find  an  asylum 
after  all  his  heavy  misfortunes.^  If  the  English  were  to 
be  trusted  I  should  say  that  it  is  fortunate  the  Parlia- 
ments are  in  favour  of  George ;  but  the  more  one  reads 
the  history  of  English  Revolutions,  the  more  one  is 
compelled  to  remark  the  eternal  hatred  which  the  people 
of  that  nation  have  had  towards  their  Kings,  as  well  as 
their  fickleness  (1714). 

I  The  Duchess  d' Orleans  was,  by  the  mother's  side,  grand- 
daughter of  James  I.,  which  explains  the  interest  she  took  in  the 
fate  of  the  Stuart  family. 

22 — 2 


340  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

Have  I  not  reason  to  fear  on  George's  account  since 
he  has  been  made  King  of  England,  and  knowing  as 
I  do  the  desire  he  had  to  be  King  of  another  country  ? 
I  know  the  accursed  English  too  well  to  trust  them.  May 
God  protect  their  Majesties  the  Princes,  and  all  the 
family,  but  I  confess  I  fear  for  them  greatly  (17 15). 

The  poor  Princess  of  Wales  ^  has  caused  me  great 
uneasiness  since  her  letter  of  the  3rd  (15th)  of  February 
(171 8).  She  has  implored  the  King's  pardon  as  one 
implores  the  pardon  of  God,  but  without  success. 
I  know  nothing  about  it,  but  dread  lest  the  Prince  should 
partake  his  mother's  disgrace.^  I  think,  however,  since 
the  King  has  declared  the  Prince  to  be  his  son,  he  should 
treat  him  as  such,  and  not  act  so  haughtily  against  the 
Princess,  who  has  never  offended  him,  but  has  always 
treated  him  with  the  respect  due  to  a  father.  Nothing 
good  can  result  from  the  present  state  of  affairs  ;  and  the 
King  had  better  put  an  end  to  a  quarrel  which  gives 
occasion  to  a  thousand  impertinences,  and  revives 
awkward  stories  which  were  better  forgotten. 

The  King  of  England  has  returned  to  London  in 
good  health  (1719).  The  Prince  of  Wales  causes  me 
great  anxiety.  He  thought  he  should  do  well  to  send 
one  of  his  gentlemen  to  his  father,  to  assure  him  in  most 
submissive  terms  of  the  joy  he  felt  at  his  happy  return. 
The  King  not  only  would  not  receive  the  letter,  but  he 
sent   back   the   gentleman    with    a    very    harsh    rebuke, 


1  Wilhelmina  Dorothea  Charlotte,  daughter  of  John  Frederick, 
Margrave  of  Anspach,  born  in  1682,  married  to  the  Prince  of  Wales 
in  1705.  The  particulars  of  the  quarrel  between  George  I.  and  his 
son,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  will  be  found  in  Coxe's  "  Memoirs  of 
Sir  Robert  Walpole." 

2  The  unfortunate  Sophia  Dorothea,  Princess  of  Brunswick  Zell. 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  34I 

revoking  at  the  same  time  the  permission,  which  before 
his  journey  he  had  given  to  the  Prince  of  Wales,  to  see 
his  daughter,  whom  the  Prince  loves  very  tenderly  ;  this 
really  seems  too  severe.  It  may  be  said  that  the  King  is 
rather  descended  from  the  race  of  the  Czar  than  from 
that  of  Brunswick  and  the  Palatinate.^  Such  conduct 
can  do  him  no  good. 

M.  d'Entremont,  the  last  Ambassador  from  Sicily, 
was  upon  the  point  of  departing,  and  had  already  had 
his  farewell  audience,  when  some  circumstance  happened 
which  compelled  him  to  stay  some  time  longer.  He 
found  himself  without  a  lodging,  for  his  hotel  had  been 
already  let.  A  lady  seeing  the  embarrassment  in  which 
Madame  d'Entremont  was  thus  placed,  said  to  her, 
"  Madame,  I  have  pleasure  in  offering  you  my  house, 
my  own  room,  and  my  own  bed."  The  Ambassador's 
lady  not  knowing  what  to  do,  accepted  the  offer  with 
great  readiness.  She  went  to  the  lady's  house,  and  as 
she  is  old  and  in  ill  health,  she  went  to  bed  immediately. 
Towards  midnight  she  heard  a  noise  like  that  of  some 
person  opening  a  secret  door.  In  fact,  a  door  in  the  wall 
by  the  bedside  was  opened,  someone  entered,  and  began 
to  undress.  The  lady  called  out,  "  Who  is  there  ?  "  A 
voice  replied,  "It  is  I ;  be  quiet."  "Who  are  you?" 
asked  the  lady.  "  What  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  "  was 
the  reply.  "  You  were  not  wont  to  be  so  particular. 
I  am  undressing,  and  shall  come  to  bed  directly."  At 
these  words  the  lady  cried  out,  "  Thieves  1 "  with  all  her 
might,  and  the  unknown  person  dressed  himself  quickly, 
and  withdrew. 

I  George  the  First's  mother  was  a  Palatinate  Princess  of  the 
family  of  Simmern,  and  the  aunt  of  the  Duchess  of  Orleans. 


342  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

When  the  Electoral  Prince  of  Saxony  came  hither, 
he  addressed  a  pretty  compliment  to  the  King,  which  we 
all  thought  was  his  own,  and  we  therefore  conceived  a 
very  favourable  notion  of  his  parts.  He  did  not,  however, 
keep  up  that  good  opinion,  and  probably  the  compliment 
was  made  for  him  by  the  Elector-Palatine.  The  King 
desired  the  Duchess  de  Berri  to  show  him  about  Marly. 
He  walked  with  her  for  an  hour  without  ever  offering 
her  his  arm  or  saying  one  word  to  her.  While  they  were 
ascending  a  small  hill,  the  Palatine,  his  governor,  nodded 
to  him  ;  and  as  the  Prince  did  not  understand  what  he 
meant,  he  was  at  length  obliged  to  say  to  him,  "  Offer 
your  arm  to  the  Duchess  de  Berri."  The  Prince  obeyed, 
but  without  saying  a  word.  When  they  reached  the 
summit,  "  Here,"  said  the  Duchess  de  Berri,  "is  a 
nice  place  for  blindman's  buff."  Then,  for  the  first 
time,  he  opened  his  mouth,  and  said,  "  Oh,  yes ;  I 
am  very  willing  to  play."  Madame  de  Berri  was  too 
much  fatigued  to  play ;  but  the  Prince  continued  amusing 
himself  the  whole  day  without  offering  the  least  civility 
to  the  Duchess,  who  had  taken  such  pains  for  him. 
This  will  serve  to  show  how  puerile  the  Prince  is. 
^  *  *  -;r  *  * 

We  have  had  here  several  good  repartees  of  Duke 
Bernard  de  Weimar.  One  day  a  young  Frenchman 
asked  him,  "  How  happened  it  that  you  lost  the  battle  ?  " 
"  I  will  tell  you,  sir,"  replied  the  Duke,  coolly ;  "  I 
thought  I  should  win  it,  and  so  I  lost  it."  "  But,"  he 
said,  turning  himself  slowly  round,  "who  is  the  fool 
that  asked  me  this  question  ?  " 

Father  Joseph  was  in  great  favour  with  Cardinal 
Richeheu,  and  was  consulted  by  him  on  all  occasions. 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  343 

One  day,  when  the  Cardinal  had  summoned  Duke 
Bernard  to  the  Council,  Father  Joseph  running  his 
finger  over  a  map,  said,  "  Monsieur,  you  must  first 
take  this  city;  then  that,  and  then  that."  The  Duke 
Bernard  listened  to  him  for  some  time,  and  at  length 
said,  "  But,  Monsieur  Joseph,  you  cannot  take  cities 
with  your  finger."  This  story  always  made  the  King 
laugh  heartily. 

-^  *  *  *  4f-  * 

M.  de  Brancas  was  very  deeply  in  love  with  the 
lady  whom  he  married.  On  his  wedding-day  he  went 
to  take  a  bath,  and  was  afterwards  going  to  bed  at 
the  bath-house.  "  Why  are  you  going  to  bed  here, 
sir  ?  "  said  his  valet  de  chambre  ;  "  do  you  not  mean 
to  go  to  your  wife  ?  "  "I  had  quite  forgotten,"  he 
replied.  He  was  the  Queen-mother's  chevalier  dlionneiir 
One  day,  while  she  was  at  church,  Brancas  forgot 
that  the  Queen  was  kneeling  before  him,  for  as  her 
back  was  very  round,  her  head  could  hardly  be  seen 
when  she  hung  it  down.  He  took  her  for  a  prie-dien, 
and  knelt  down  upon  her,  putting  his  elbows  upon  her 
shoulders.  The  Queen  was  of  course  not  a  little  sur- 
prised to  find  her  chevalier  d'honneur  upon  her  back,  and 
all  the  bystanders  were  ready  to  die  with  laughing. 

Dr.  Chirac  was  once  called  to  see  a  lady,  and  while 
he  was  in  her  bedchamber,  he  heard  that  the  price  of 
stock  had  considerably  decreased.  As  he  happened  to 
be  a  large  holder  of  the  Mississippi  Bonds,  he  was 
alarmed  at  the  news ;  and  being  seated  near  the  patient, 
whose  pulse  he  was  feeling,  he  said,  with  a  deep  sigh, 
"  Ah,  good  God  1  they  keep  sinking,  sinking,  sinking  !  " 
The    poor    sick     lady    hearing     this,    uttered    a    loud 


344  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

shriek ;  the  people  ran  to  her  immediately ;  "  Ah,"  said 
she,  "  I  shall  die ;  M.  de  Chirac  has  just  said  three 
times,  as  he  felt  my  pulse,  *  They  keep  sinking  !  '  "  The 
Doctor  recovered  himself  soon,  and  said,  "You  dream; 
your  pulse  is  very  healthy,  and  you  are  very  well. 
I  was  thinking  of  the  Mississippi  stocks,  upon  which 
I  lose  my  money,  because  their  price  sinks."  This 
explanation  satisfied  the  sick  lady. 

The  Duke  de  Sully  was  subject  to  frequent  fits  of 
abstraction.  One  day,  having  dressed  himself  to  go  to 
church,  he  forgot  nothing  but  his  breeches.  This  was 
in  the  winter  ;  when  he  entered  the  church,  he  said, 
*'  Mon  Dieu,  it  is  very  cold  to-day."  The  persons 
present  said,  "  Not  colder  than  usual !  "  "  Then  I  am  in 
a  fever,"  he  said.  Someone  suggested  that  he  had 
perhaps  not  dressed  himself  so  warmly  as  usual ;  and 
opening  his  coat  the  cause  of  his  being  cold  was  very 
apparent. 

Our  late  King  told  me  the  following  anecdote  of 
Queen  Christina  of  Sweden.  That  Princess,  instead 
of  putting  on  a  nightcap,  wrapped  her  head  up  in  a 
napkin.  One  night  she  could  not  sleep,  and  ordered  the 
musicians  to  be  brought  into  her  bedroom ;  where, 
drawing  the  bed-curtains,  she  could  not  be  seen  by  the 
musicians,  but  could  hear  them  at  her  ease.  At  length, 
enchanted  at  a  piece  which  they  had  just  played,  she 
abruptly  thrust  her  head  beyond  the  curtains,  and  cried 
out,  "  Mort  diable  !  but  they  sing  delightfully!"  At 
this  grotesque  sight,  the  Italians,  and  particularly  the 
castraii,  who  are  not  the  bravest  men  in  the  world,  were 
so  frightened  that  they  were  obliged  to  stop  short. 

In  the  great  gallery  at  Fontainebleau  may  still  be 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  345 

seen  the  blood  of  the  man  whom  she  caused  to  be 
assassinated  ;  it  was  to  prev^ent  his  disclosing  some 
secrets  of  which  he  was  in  possession  that  she  deprived 
him  of  life.  He  had,  in  fact,  begun  to  chatter  through 
jealousy  of  another  person  who  had  gained  the  Queen's 
favour.  Christina  was  very  vindictive,  and  given  up  to 
all  kinds  of  debauchery.  *  *<  *  « 

*  ****** 

Duke  Frederick  Augustus  of  Brunswick  was  de- 
lighted with  Christina  ;  he  said  that  he  had  never  in 
his  life  met  with  a  woman  who  had  so  much  wit,  and 
whose  conversation  was  so  truly  diverting;  he  added, 
that  it  was  impossible  to  be  dull  with  her  for  a  moment. 
I  observed  to  him  that  the  Queen  in  her  conversation 
frequently  indulged  in  very  filthy  discussions.  "  That 
is  true,"  replied  he,  "  but  she  conceals  such  things  in  so 
artful  a  manner  as  to  take  from  them  all  their  disgusting 
features."  She  never  could  be  agreeable  to  women,  for 
she  despised  them  altogether. 

Saint  Fran9ois  de  Sales,  who  founded  the  order  of 
the  Sisters  of  Saint  Mary,  had  in  his  youth  been  ex- 
tremely intimate  with  ]\Iarshal  de  Villeroi,  the  father 
of  the  present  Marshal.  The  old  gentleman  could 
therefore  never  bring  himself  to  call  his  old  friend  a 
saint.  When  anyone  spoke  in  his  presence  of  Saint 
Fran9ois  de  Sales,  he  used  to  say,  "  I  was  delighted 
when  I  saw  M.  de  Sales  become  a  saint ;  he  used  to 
delight  in  talking  indecently,  and  always  cheated  at  play ; 
in  every  other  respect  he  was  one  of  the  best  gentlemen 
in  the  world,  and  perhaps  one  of  the  most  foolish.^" 

I  M.  de  Cosnac,  Archbishop  of  Aix,  was  at  a  very  advanced 
age  when  he  learnt  that  Saint  Fran9ois  de  Sales  had  been  canonized. 


346  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

While  Frederick  Charles  de  Wurtembourg,  the 
administratcuv  of  that  duchy,  was  staying  at  Paris,  the 
Princess  Marianne  de  Wurtembourg,  Duke  Ulric's 
daughter,  was  there  also  with  her  mother.  Expecting 
then  to  marry  her  cousin/  she  had  herself  painted  as 
Andromeda  and  her  cousin  as  Perseus :  as  the  latter 
wore  no  helmet,  everybody  could  of  course  recognize 
him.  But  when  he  went  away  without  having  married 
her,  she  had  a  casque  painted,  which  concealed  the  face, 
and  said  she  would  not  have  another  face  inserted  until 
she  should  be  married.  She  was  then  about  nineteen 
years  old.  Her  mother  said  once  at  Court,  "  My 
daughter  has  not  come  with  me  to-day  because  she 
is  gone  to  confess ;  but,  poor  child,  what  can  she  have 
to  say  to  her  confessor,  except  that  she  has  dropped 
some  stitches  in  her  work."  Madame  de  Fiennes  who 
was  present,  whispered,  "The  placid  old  fool!  as  if  a 
stout  healthy  girl  of  nineteen  had  no  other  sins  to  confess 
than  having  dropped  some  stitches." 

A  village-pastor  was  examining  his  parishioners  in 
their  catechism.  The  first  question  in  the  Heidelberg 
catechism  is  this;  "  What  is  thy  only  consolation  in  life 
and  in  death?"     A  young  girl,  to  whom  the  pastor  put 

"  What  1 "  cried  he,  "  M.  de  Geneve,  my  old  friend  ?  I  am  delighted 
at  his  good  fortune  ;  he  was  a  gallant  man,  an  amiable  man,  and  an 
honest  man,  too,  although  he  would  sometimes  cheat  at  piquet,  at 
which  we  have  often  played  together."  "But,  sir,"  said  someone 
present,  "is  it  possible  that  a  saint  could  be  a  sharper  at  play?" 
"  No,"  replied  the  Archbishop,  "  he  said,  as  a  reason  for  it,  that  he 
gave  all  his  winnings  to  the  poor." — Loisirs  d'lin  homme  d'etat,  et 
Dictionnaire  Historique,  torn.  vii.     Paris,  1810. 

I  The  learned  Journal  of  Göttingen  for  the  year  1789,  No.  30, 
observes,  there  must  be  some  mistake  here,  because  in  1689,  when 
this  circumstance  is  supposed  to  have  occurred,  the  administrateur 
had  been  married  seven  years,  and  had  children  at  Stuttgard. 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  347 

this  question,  laughed,  and  would  not  answer.  The 
priest  insisted.  "  Well,  then,"  said  she  at  length,  "if 
I  must  tell  you,  it  is  the  young  shoemaker  who  lives  in 
the  Rue  Agneaux." 

The  late  Madame  de  Nemours  had  charitably 
brought  up  a  poor  child.  When  the  child  was  about 
nine  years  old,  she  said  to  her  benefactress,  "  Madame, 
no  one  can  be  more  grateful  for  your  charity  than  I 
am,  and  I  cannot  acknowledge  it  better  than  by  telling 
everybody  I  am  your  daughter ;  but  do  not  be  alarmed, 
I  will  not  say  that  I  am  your  lawful  child,  only  your 
illegitimate  daughter." 

The  Memoirs  of  Queen  INIargaret  of  Navarre^  are 
merely  a  romance  compared  with  those  of  Mdlle.  de  la 
Force.  The  authoress's  own  life  was  a  romance.  Being 
extremely  poor,  although  of  an  ancient  and  honourable 
family,  she  accepted  the  office  of  demoiselle  dlionneur  to 
the  Duchess  de  Guise.  Here  the  Marquis  de  Nesle, 
father  of  the  present  Marquis  (1720),  became  enamoured 
of  her,  after  having  received  from  her  a  small  bag  to 
wear  about  his  neck,  as  a  remedy  against  the  vapours. 
He  would  have  married  her,  but  his  relations  opposed 
this  intention  on  the  score  of  Mdlle.  de  la  Force's 
poverty,  and  because  she  had  improperly  quitted  the 
Duchess  de  Guise.  The  Great  Conde,  the  Marquis  de 
Nesle's  nearest  relation,  took  him  to  Chatillon  that  he 
might  forget  his  love  for  Mdlle.  de  la  Force ;  all  the 
Marquis's  relations  were  there  assembled  for  the  purpose 

I  Les  Memoires  de  la,  Reine  Marguerite  were  published  by  the 
Sieur  de  Mauleon  ;  and  the  first  edition  of  it  appeared  long  prior  to 
the  birth  of  Mademoiselle;  the  latter,  it  is  true,  published  an 
historical  romance,  entitled,  Hiitoire  de  Marguerite  de  Valois,  1692. 
2  vols.,  i2mo 


348  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

of  declaring  to  him  that  they  would  never  consent  to 
his  marriage  with  Mdlle.  de  la  Force  ;  and  he  on  his 
part  told  them  that  he  would  never  while  he  lived 
marry  any  other  person.  In  a  movement  of  despair, 
he  rushed  out  to  the  garden  and  would  have  thrown 
himself  into  the  canal,  but  that  the  strings  with  which 
Mdlle.  de  la  Force  had  tied  the  bag  about  his  neck, 
broke,  and  the  bag  fell  at  his  feet.  His  thoughts 
appeared  to  undergo  a  sudden  change,  and  Mdlle.  de 
la  Force  seemed  to  him  to  be  as  ugly  as  she  really  is. 
He  went  instantly  to  the  Prince  and  his  other  relations 
who  were  there,  and  told  them  what  had  just  happened. 
They  searched  about  in  the  garden  for  the  bag  and  the 
strings,  and  opening  it  they  found  it  to  contain  two  toads' 
feet  holding  a  heart  wrapped  up  in  a  bat's  wing,  and 
round  the  whole  a  paper  inscribed  with  unintelHgible 
cyphers.  The  Marquis  was  seized  with  horror  at  the 
sight.  He  told  me  this  story  with  his  own  mouth. 
Mdlle.  de  la  Force  after  this,  fell  in  love  with  Baron, 
but  as  he  was  not  bewitched,  the  intrigue  did  not  last 
long  :  he  used  to  give  a  very  amusing  account  of  the 
declaration  she  made  to  him.  Then  a  M.  Briou,  the  son 
of  a  councillor  of  that  name,  became  attached  to  her ;  his 
relations,  who  would  by  no  means  have  consented  to  such 
a  marriage,  shut  the  young  man  up.  La  Force,  who  has 
a  very  fertile  wit,  engaged  an  itinerant  musician  who  led 
about  dancing  bears  in  the  street,  and  intimated  to  her 
lover  that  if  he  would  express  a  wish  to  see  the  bears 
dance  in  the  courtyard  of  his  own  house,  she  would  come 
to  him  disguised  in  a  bear's  skin.  She  procured  a  bear's 
skin  to  be  made  so  as  to  fit  her,  and  went  to  M.  Briou's 
house  with  the  bears ;  the  young  man,  under  the  pretence 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  349 

of  playing  with  this  bear,  had  an  opportunity  of  conversing 
with  her  and  of  laying  their  future  plans.  He  then 
promised  his  father  that  he  would  submit  to  his  will, 
and  thus  having  regained  his  liberty  he  immediately 
married  Mdlle.  de  la  Force,  and  went  with  her  to 
Versailles,  where  the  King  gave  them  apartments,  and 
where  Madame  de  Briou  was  every  day  with  the 
Dauphine  of  Bavaria,  who  admired  her  wit  and  was 
delighted  with  her  society.  M.  de  Briou  was  not  then 
five-and-twenty  years  of  age,  a  very  good-looking  and 
well-bred  young  man.  His  father,  however,  procured 
a  dissolution  of  the  marriage  by  the  Parhament,  and  made 
him  marry  another  person.  Madame  de  Briou  thus 
became  once  more  Mdlle.  de  la  Force,  and  found  herself 
without  husband  and  without  money.  I  cannot  tell  how 
it  was  that  the  King  and  her  parents,  both  of  whom  had 
consented  to  the  marriage,  did  not  oppose  its  dissolution. 
To  gain  a  subsistence  she  set  about  composing  romances, 
and  as  she  was  often  staying  with  the  Princess  de  Conti, 
she  dedicated  to  her  that  of  Queen  Margaret. 

We  have  had  four  dukes  who  have  bought  coffee, 
stus,  fiand  even  candles  for  the  purpose  of  selling  them 
again  at  a  profit.  It  was  the  Duke  de  la  Force  who 
bought  the  candles.^  One  evening,  very  recently,  as  he 
was  going  out  of  the  Opera,  the  staircase  was  filled  with 

I  The  Duke,  together  with  certain  other  persons,  made  con- 
siderable purchases  of  spice,  porcelain,  and  other  merchandizes,  for 
the  purpose  of  realizing  the  hope  of  Law's  Banks.  As  he  was  not 
held  in  estimation,  either  by  the  public  or  by  the  Parliament,  the 
Duke  was  accused  of  monopoly;  and  by  a  decree  of  the  Parliament, 
in  concert  with  the  Peers,  he  was  enjoined,  "  to  use  more  circum- 
spection for  the  future,  and  to  conduct  himself  irreproachably,  in  a 
manner  as  should  be  consistent  with  his  birth  and  his  dignity  as  a 
peer  of  France." 


350  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

young  men,  one  of  whom  cried  out,  as  he  passed,  "  His 
purse!"  "No,"  said  another,  "there  can  be  no  money  in 
it;  he  would  not  risk  it;  it  must  be  candles  that  he  has 
bought  to  sell  again."  They  then  sang  the  air  of  the 
fourth  act  of  Phyton  : — 

Allez,  allez  reprendre  la  lumiere, 

Puisse  un  heureux  destin 

Vous  conduire  ä  la  fin 
De  votre  brillant  carriere  1 
Allez  reprendre  la  lumiere. 

The  Queen  Catherine  (de  Medici)  was  a  very  wicked 
woman.  Her  uncle  the  Pope  had  good  reason  for  saying 
that  he  had  made  a  bad  present  to  France.  It  is  said 
that  she  poisoned  her  youngest  son  because  he  had 
discovered  her  in  a  common  brothel  whither  she  had 
gone  privately.  Who  can  wonder  that  such  a  woman 
should  drink  out  of  a  cup  covered  with  designs  from 
Aretino.  The  Pope  had  an  object  in  sending  her  to 
France.  Her  son  was  the  Duke  d'Alen9on  ;  and  as  they 
both  remained  incog,  the  world  did  not  know  they  were 
mother  and  son,  which  occasioned  frequent  mistakes. 

The  young  Count  Horn,  who  has  just  been  executed 
here  (1720),  was  descended  from  a  well-known  Flemish 
family ;  he  was  distinguished  at  first  for  the  amiable 
qualities  of  his  head  and  for  his  wit.  At  college  he  was 
a  model  for  good  conduct,  application,  and  purity  01 
morals ;  but  the  intimacy  which  he  formed  with  some 
libertine  young  men  during  his  stay  at  the  Academy  of 
Paris  entirely  changed  him.  He  contracted  an  insatiable 
desire  for  play,  and  even  his  own  father  said  to  him, 
♦'You  will  die  by  the  hands  of  the  executioner." 
Being  destitute  of  money,  the  young  Count  took  up 
the  trade  of  a  pickpocket,  which  he  carried  on  in  the  pit 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  35I 

of  the  theatres,  and  by  which  he  made  considerable 
gains  in  silver-hilted  swords  and  watches.  At  length, 
having  lost  a  sum  of  five-and-twenty  thousand  crowns 
at  the  fair  of  Saint  Germain,  he  was  led  to  commit  that 
crime  which  he  has  just  expiated  on  the  scaffold.  For 
the  purpose  of  discharging  the  debt  he  had  contracted,  he 
sent  for  a  banker's  clerk  to  bring  him  certain  bank  bills, 
which  he  proposed  to  purchase.  Having  connected  him- 
self with  two  other  villains,  he  attacked  the  clerk  as  soon 
as  he  arrived,  and  stabbed  him  with  poniards  which 
he  had  bought  three  days  before  on  the  Pont  Neuf. 
Hoping  to  conceal  the  share  which  he  had  taken  in  this 
crime,  he  went  immediately  after  its  perpetration  to  the 
Commissaire  du  Quartier,  and  told  him,  with  a  cool  and 
determined  air,  that  he  had  been  obliged  in  his  own 
defence,  to  kill  the  clerk,  who  had  attacked  him  and  put 
him  in  danger  of  his  life.  The  Commissaire  looking  at  him 
steadfastly,  said,  "  You  are  covered  with  blood,  but 
you  are  not  even  wounded ;  I  must  retain  you  in 
custody  until  I  can  examine  this  affair  more  minutely." 
At  this  moment  the  accomplice  entered  the  room, 
"  Here,  sir,"  said  the  Count  to  the  Commissaire,  "  is  one 
who  can  bear  testimony  that  the  account  I  have  given 
you  of  this  business  is  perfectly  true."  The  accomplice 
was  quite  terrified  at  hearing  this,  he  thought  that  Count 
Horn  had  confessed  his  crime,  and  that  there  could  be 
no  advantage  in  continuing  to  deny  it ;  he  therefore 
confessed  all  that  had  taken  place,  and  thus  the  murder 
was  revealed.  The  Count  was  not  more  than  two-and- 
twenty  years  of  age,  and  one  of  the  handsomest  men 
in  Paris.  Some  of  the  first  persons  in  France  solicited 
in  his  favour,  but  the  Duke  Regent  thought  it  necessary 


352  HISTORICAL    FRAGMENTS 

to  make  an  example  of  him  on  account  of  the  prevalent 
excess  of  crime.  Horn  was  publicly  broken  on  the 
wheel  with  his  second  accomplice  ;  the  other  died  just 
before :  they  were  both  gentlemen  and  of  noble  families. 
When  they  arrived  at  the  place  of  punishment,  they 
begged  the  people  to  implore  the  pardon  of  Heaven  upon 
their  sins.  The  spectators  were  affected  to  tears,  but 
they  nevertheless  agreed  in  the  just  severity  of  their 
punishment ;  the  people  said  aloud  after  the  execution, 
**  Our  Regent  has  done  justice." 

One  lady  was  blaming  another,  her  intimate  friend, 
for  loving  a  very  ugly  man.  The  latter  said,  "Did  he 
ever  speak  to  you  tenderly  or  passionately  ?  "  "  No," 
replied  the  former.  "Then  you  cannot  judge,"  said  her 
friend,  "  whether  I  ought  to  love  him  or  not." 

Madame  de  Nernours  used  to  say  "  I  have  observed 
one  thing  in  this  country,  *  Honour  grows  again  as  well 
as  hair.'" 

An  officer,  a  gentleman  of  talent,  whose  name  was 
Hautmont,  wrote  the  following  verses  upon  Cardinal 
Mazarin,  for  which  he  was  locked  up  in  the  Bastille  for 
eighteen  months : — 

Creusons  tous  le  tombeau 
X  qui  nous  persecute ; 
A  ce  Jules  nouveau 
Cherchons  un  nouveau  Brute. 
Que  le  jour  serait  beau, 
Si  nous  voyions  sa  chute  I 

The  Queen-mother  could  not  endure  Boisrobert  on 

account  of  his  impiety ;  she  did  not  like  him  to  visit  her 

sons,  the  King  and  Monsieur,  in  their  youth,  but  they 

were  very  fond  of  him  because  he  used  to  amuse  them. 

When  he  was  at  the  point  of  death,  the   Queen-mother 


ANECDOTES,    ETC  353 

sent  some  priests  to  convert  him  and  to  prepare  him  for 
confession.  Boisrobert  appeared  inclined  to  confess. 
"  Yes,  mon  Dieu,"  said  he,  devoutly  joining  his  hands, 
"1  sincerely  implore  Thy  pardon,  and  confess  that  I  am 
a  great  sinner,  but  thou  knowest  that  the  Abbe  de 
Villar9eau  is  a  much  greater  sinner  than   I  am." 

Cardinal  Mazarin  sent  him  once  to  compliment  the 
English  Ambassador  on  his  arrival.  When  he  reached 
the  hotel,  an  EngHshman  said  to  him,  *'  Milord,  il  est 
pret ;  my  ladi,  il  n'est  pas  pret,  friselire  ses  chevaux, 
prendre  patience."  The  late  King  used  to  relate  stories 
of  this  same  Boisrobert  in  a  very  whimsical  manner. 

The  life  which  folks  lead  at  Paris  becomes  daily 
more  scandalous;  I  really  tremble  for  the  city  every 
time  it  thunders.  Three  ladies  of  quality  have  just 
committed  a  monstrous  imprudence.  They  have  been 
running  after  the  Turkish  Ambassador ;  they  made  his 
son  drunk  and  kept  him  with  them  three  days ;  if  they 
go  on  in  this  way  even  the  Capuchins  will  not  be  safe 
from  them.  The  Turks  must  needs  have  a  very  be- 
coming notion  of  the  conduct  of  ladies  of  quality  in  a 
Christian  country.  The  young  Turk  is  said  to  have  told 
Madame  de  Polignac,  who  was  one  of  the  three  ladies, 
"  Madame,  your  reputation  has  reached  Constantinople, 
and  I  see  that  report  has  only  done  you  justice."  The 
Ambassador,  it  is  said,  is  very  much  enraged  with  his 
son,  and  has  enjoined  him  to  keep  his  adventure  pro- 
foundly a  secret,  because  he  would  risk  the  lop  of  his 
head  on  his  return  to  Constantinople  if  it  were  known 
that  he  had  associated  with  Christian  women.  It  is  to 
be  feared  that  the  young  man  will  get  safely  out  of 
France.  Madame  de  Polignac  has  fleeced  all  the  young 
men  of  quality  here.     I  do  not  know  how  her  relations 


354  HISTORICAL   FRAGMENTS 

and  those  of  her  husband  choose  to  suflfer  her  to  lead  so 
libertine  a  life.  But  all  shame  is  extinct  in  France,  and 
everything  is  turned  topsy-turvy. 

It  is  very  unfortunate  that  noblemen  like  the  Elector- 
Palatine  John  William  should  suffer  themselves  to  be 
governed  by  the  priesthood  ;  nothing  but  evil  can  result 
from  it.  He  would  do  much  better  if  he  would  follow 
the  advice  of  able  statesmen,  and  throw  his  priest  into 
the  Necker.  I  would  advise  him  to  do  so,  and  I  think 
I  should  advise  him  v/ell. 

I  cannot  conceive  why  the  Duke  Maximilian  (brother 
of  George  I.  of  England)^  changed  his  religion,  for  he 
had  very  little  faith  in  general ;  none  of  his  relations 
solicited  him  to  do  so,  and  he  was  induced  by  no  personal 
interest. 

I  have  heard  a  story  of  this  Prince,  which  does  him 
little  honour.  I  have  been  told  that  he  complained  to 
the  Emperor  of  his  mother,  who  bred  him  tenderly,  but 
who  had  not  sent  him  eight  thousand  crowns  which  he 
had  asked  her  for.  This  is  abominable,  and  he  can  hope 
for  happiness  neither  in  this  nor  in  the  next  world ;  I  can 
never  forgive  him  for  it.  The  first  idea  of  this  must 
have  originated  with  Father  Wolff,  who  has  also  excited 
him  against  Prince  Edward  Augustus.*^  What  angers 
me  most  with  this  cursed  monk  is,  that  he  will  not  suffer 
Duke  Maximilian  to  have  a  single  nobleman  about  him ; 
he  will  only  allov/  him  to  be  approached  by  beggars 
like  himself. 

1  Prince  Maximilian  of  Hanover,  the  second  brother  of  George  I., 
had,  after  the  death  of  his  brother  Frederick  Augustus,  certain 
rights  over  the  Bishopric  of  Osnaburgh  ;  love  and  his  monks  caused 
him  to  embrace  the  Catholic  faith. 

2  Maximilian  contested  the  Bishopric  of  Osnaburgh  with  his 
younger  brother. 


EXPLANATORY    NOTES. 


Marie   Germain. 

Montaigne  mentions  this  person,  whom  he  says  he  saw, 
in  his  Essais,  liv.  1.,  chap.  xx. 


Madame  La  Marechale  de  Clerambault. 

This  lady  was  the  daughter  of  Chavigny  and  of  one  of  the 
most  witty  and  clever  women  that  France  ever  produced.  Her 
wit  was  always  pointed  and  agreeable,  and  this,  too,  without 
the  least  affectation  ;  she  was,  besides,  rich,  avaricious,  fond  of 
jewels,  and  singular  to  the  last  degree,  caring  for  nobody,  and 
yet  universally  regarded. 

She  was  expected  to  die  of  a  consumption  when  she  was 
young,  and  was  advised  to  avoid  talking  as  much  as  possible. 
She  remained  a  whole  year  in  succession  without  ever  speaking 
a  word,  and  this  gave  her  a  habit  of  taciturnity  which  she 
preserved  during  the  remainder  of  her  hfe.  When  she  was 
well  and  chose  to  exert  herself,  no  person  could  be  better 
company.  She  believed,  although  she  would  not  confess  it, 
that  she  could  discover  the  events  of  futurity  by  calculations 
and  schemes,  and  this  had  attached  her  to  Madame,  who  was 
very  fond  of  these  curiosities.  She  never  appeared  without  a 
mask  upon  her  large  withered  pale  face.  She  assigned  as  a 
reason  for  this  habit  that  the  air  had  the  effect  of  spoiling  her 
complexion ;  but  it  was,  in  point  of  fact,  only  a  custom  which 
she  could  not  leave  off  when  the  fashion  had  changed.  She 
would  play  at  cards  for  whole  days  and  nights  without  speaking 
a   word.     She   had   a   sister  to  whom   she   was  passionately 


356  EXPLANATORY    NOTES 

attached,  and  who  fell  sick.  She  sent  constantly  to  know  how 
she  was,  and  when  she  learnt  that  she  was  at  the  last  extremity, 
she  said,  "My  poor  sister,  let  no  one  ever  speak  to  me  of  her 
again."  Madame  La  Marechale  never  spoke  of  her  again,  nor 
of  two  sons  whom  she  lost,  and  survived  a  long  time ;  but  it  is 
true  she  did  not  love  the  latter  very  warmly. — Notes  du  Journal 
de  Dangeau. 


On  the  Infirmity  of  the  Regent's  Character. 

The  Duke  de  Saint  Simon,  so  far  from  saying  that  the 
Regent  laughed  when  he  reproached  him  with  being  debomiaire, 
relates  that,  on  the  contrary,  the  Regent  flew  into  a  violent 
passion  with  him.  This  scene  took  place  before  the  bed  of  the 
Duchess  of  Orleans,  while  her  husband  the  Regent  was  sitting 
at  the  foot  of  it.  She  was  blaming  him  for  not  having  acted 
with  firmness  towards  the  Prince  and  the  Cardinal  de  Rohan, 
who  had  betrayed  his  confidence.  The  Regent  with  great 
nonchalance  assented  to  everything  his  wife  said.  Then  Saint 
Simon  said,  with  some  little  warmth,  "  It  must  be  confessed, 
Monseigneur,  that  since  the  days  of  Louis  le  Debonnaire  there 
has  never  been  a  prince  so  debonnaire  as  you." — "  At  this,"  says 
Saint  Simon,  "he  rose  in  his  chair,  red  with  anger  to  his  very 
eyes,  and  stammering  with  passion,  because  I  had  said  what  he 
did  not  like ;  and  with  Madame  the  Duchess,  because  she  had 
proved  it,  and  was  laughing  at  him.  '  That's  well.  Monsieur.' 
said  I,  '  treat  your  enemies  well,  and  fly  into  a  rage  with  your 
faithful  friends ;  I  am  delighted  to  see  you  angry,  it  is  a  sign  that 
I  have  put  my  finger  upon  the  diseased  part ;  when  it  is  pressed 
the  patient  cries  out.'  He  muttered  something  more,  and  then 
was  appeased.  This  is  the  only  occasion  upon  which  he  was 
really  angry  with  me." 

About  three  years  after  this  scene  the  Regent,  as  he  was 
one  day  about  to  enter  the  Council,  drew  the  Duke  de  Saint 
Simon  aside,  and  said  to  him  in  an  angry  tone,  "  I  have  to 
complain  of  your  behaviour ;   you  whom  I  have  always  looked 


EXPLANATORY   NOTES 


357 


upon  as  one  of  my  best  friends."  "Of  me,  Monsieur  I  "  replied 
Saint  Simon  in  astonishment, "  for  what  reason,  I  beceech  you  ?  " 
"For  what  reason!"  rejonied  the  Duke,  angrily,  "for  the  verses 
you  have  made  against  me."  Saint  Simon,  in  still  greater 
astonishment,  assured  him  that  he  never  made  any  verses 
whatever  in  the  whole  course  of  his  life.  "  Oh,  parbleu,"  said 
the  Regent,  "you  cannot  deny  this";  and  then  he  laughed,  and 
sang  a  Pont  Ncuf  song  which  had  been  made  upon  him,  the 
burthen  of  which  was, — 

Notre  regent  est  debonnaire,  Ion  la, 
II  est  debonnaire. 


SCHLIEßEN. 

What  Madame  says  about  Schieben  and  his  arm  is 
explained  by  the  following  passage  from  the  "  Memoirs  of  the 
Baron  de  Pöellnitz,"  vol.  i. 

"  Madame  passed  the  whole  summer  at  Saint  Cloud,  which 
occasioned  me  to  make  several  journeys  thither.  I  spoke  to 
her  of  my  situation,  and  begged  her  to  intercede  for  me  with 
the  Duke,  her  son.  She  always  promised  to  do  so,  but  never 
did  it ;  and  notwithstanding  her  constantly  telling  all  those  who 
spoke  in  my  behalf  that  she  wished  me  well,  she  was  incessantly 

urging  her  son  to  do  something  for  S (Schlieben),  a  Prussian 

nobleman  whom  she  hated  mortally.  I  was  one  day  present 
alone  when  she  solicited  for  him.  After  the  Duke  of  Orleans 
had  retired,  she  called  to  me  and  said,  '  You  see  how  I  have 

taken  up  the  interests  of  S ,  and  yet  I  assure  you  he  does  not 

deserve  it.'     Madame  then  told  me  some  very  surprising  things 

about  S ;  whom  I  took  the  hberty  to  defend,  and  to  assure 

Her  Royal  Highness  that  he  had  been  calumniated.  '  How  ! ' 
said  Madame,  '  can  you  deny  that  he  had  his  hand  cut  off  for 
having  counterfeited  the  signature  of  the  King  of  Denmark  ?  ' 

As  I  knew  very  well  S 's  adventure  at  the  Court  of  Denmark, 

that  he  had  been  guilty  of  no  such  crime,  and  besides  that  he 


353  EXPLANATORY    NOTES 

had  lost  his  arm  in  consequence  of  a  fall,  I  represented  to 
Madame  that  I  thought  that  for  such  offences  they  cut  off  the 

criminal's  hand  at  the  wrist,  while  S 's  right  arm  had  been 

amputated  close  to  the  shoulder.  *  Ah,'  said  the  Princess, '  but 
that  is  because  he  has  been  so  punished  twice.'  '  But,  Madame,' 
said  I, '  how  can  your  Royal  Highness  protect  a  man  guilty  of 
so  disgraceful  a  crime  ? '  'I  have  my  reasons,'  said  she ;  and 
this  prevented  me  from  asking  any  further.  At  length,  how- 
ever, M.  S ,  though  much  disliked,  obtained  all  that  he 

asked  for;  while  I,  to  whom  most  people  wished  well,  could 
not  even  obtain  a  positive  refusal,  which  would  at  least  have 
enabled  me  to  look  elsewhere." 


The  Poisoning  of  Madame,  Monsieur's  first  Wife. 
The  Duke  de  Saint  Simon,  after  having  related  in  his 
Memoires  all  the  particulars  o^  Madame's  being  poisoned,  and 
of  the  interrogatory  which  the  King  applied  in  secret  to  Jurnon, 
Madame's  Mattre-d'Hotd,  adds  the  following,  which  he  had  from 
the  Parliamentary  Procureur-General,  Joly  de  Fleury. 

"  A  few  days  after  Monsieur's  second  marriage,  the  King 
took  Madame  into  private,  and  related  to  her  all  these  circum- 
stances, adding,  that  he  wished  to  satisfy  her  with  respect  to 
Monsieur  as  well  as  himself,  and  he  assured  her  that  he  was 
too  honest  a  man  to  have  suffered  her  to  marry  his  brother,  if 
the  latter  had  been  capable  of  such  a  crime.  Madame  took 
advantage  of  this :  Jurnon  remained  her  chief  Mattre-d' Hotel. 
By  degrees  she  expressed  a  wish  to  investigate  the  household 
expenses,  and  engaged  Monsieur's  approbation  of  this  design ; 
at  length  she  managed  so  well  that  she  forced  Jurnon  to  sell 
his  place,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1674,  to  the  Sieur  Morel  de 
Vaulonne." 


Mademoiselle  de  Valois. 
The  memoirs  of  the  time  represent  Mdlle.  de  Valois  to 
have  been    debauched  by  ,  the   Duke  de  Richelieu.      It 


EXPLANATORY    NOTES  359 

is  said  that  the  late  Duke  discovered  among  some  family 
papers  the  letters  which  had  passed  between  Mdlle.  de  Valois 
and  Marshal  Richelieu,  and  burnt  them ;  it  is  added  that  the 
contents  of  this  correspondence  were  highly  indecent. 

She  subsequently  returned  to  Paris  with  the  Duke  her 
husband,  and  was  very  httle  regai  Jed.  The  following  epigram 
was  made  upon  her  marriage  : — 

J'epouse  un  des  plus  petits  princes 
Maitre  de  tres-petits  etats, 
Quatre  desquels  ne  vaudraient  pas 

Una  de  nos  moindres  provinces. 


Nul  jeu,  finance  tres-petite. 
Quelle  difference,  Grand  Dieu  ! 

Entre  ce  pauvre  et  triste  lieu, 
Et  le  riche  lieu  que  je  quitte. 


The  Abbe  de  Saint  Albin. 

When  the  Abbe  maintained  his  thesis  at  the  Sorbonne» 
there  was  a  very  brilliant  assembly.  M.  de  Conflans,  first 
gentleman  of  the  chamber  to  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  did  the 
honours  of  the  meeting,  and  Madame  even  condescended  to  be 
present.  The  author  of  the  "Notes  to  Dangeau's  Journal" 
thus  expresses  himself  upon  this  occasion  : — 

•'  There  never  was  so  complete  and  so  mad  a  scandal  as 
the  keeping  this  thesis,  where  the  acknowledged  son  of  an 
actress  was  treated  as  well  or  even  better  than  he  could  have 
been  if  he  were  the  legitimate  child  of  the  Duke  and  Duchess 
of  Orleans.  Madame,  who  with  all  her  notions  of  high  birth  is 
a  good  deal  swayed  by  caprice,  took  this  youth  into  favour  just 
as  she  would  have  taken  one  of  her  dogs,  and  condescended  to 
forget  in  him  that  want  of  birth  which  she  detested  in  her 
daughter-in-law  and  the  other  illegitimate  children  cf  the 
King;." 


360  explanatory  notes 

The  Death  of  Louvois. 

"  It  was  ascertained,"  says  Duclos,  "by  opening  his  body, 
that  he  had  been  poisoned ;  and  it  was  beUeved  that  the  poison 
has  been  put  in  a  vessel  of  water  which  ahvays  stood  upon 
his  chimney  and  of  which  he  was  accustomed  to  drink 
occasionally  when  long  sitting  had  made  him  thirsty.  As  the 
weather  was  then  very  warm  he  had  drunk  a  little  before  going 
to  the  King.  A  frotteiir  was  arrested  upon  suspicion,  but 
released  after  a  few  da3's'  confinement  and  the  silence  which 
the  family  preserved  upon  the  subject  was  much  wondered  at. 
The  affair  was  falling  into  oblivion  when  it  was  revived  by  the 
singular  death  of  Seroni,  an  Italian,  who  was  Louvois'  domestic 
physician,  and  who  lived  with  Barbesieux.  Seroni  had  shut 
himself  up  in  his  chamber,  and  was  uttering  dreadful  cries  like 
a  man  in  convulsions,  but  would  not  open  the  door.  He  told 
the  people  who  would  have  brought  him  assistance  that  he 
deserved  all  he  suffered.  When  they  forced  open  the  door  he 
had  expired.  This  affair,  although  it  was  hushed  up  as  before, 
gave  rise  to  thousand  suspicions,  but  no  one  knew  where  to  fix 
them." 


LIST   OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

SECRET    MEMOIRS    OF    THE    COURT    OF 
LOUIS    XIV 


PAGE 

MARQUISE   DE   MONTESPAN Fronts, 

MARIE   THERESE,    QUEEN    OF    FRANCE 64 

MARQUISE    DE   MAINTENON   AND    HER    NIECE 160 

HENRIETTA    OF    ENGLAND 200 

PHILIP   V    OF   SPAIN 240 

THE    FAMILY    OF    LOUIS    XIV 320 


361 


X  11  ^  -^  (s 


'^^l^lf^Bi    lliwinn"''''" ' V 


